MLB Rumors: Indians More Likely To Trade Francisco Lindor After 2020 Season Than Before Deadline

Before the coronavirus pandemic halted spring training and pushed back Opening Day by four months, Francisco Lindor was a top candidate to be dealt by the trade deadline. Now that the 2020 MLB season has been trimmed to 60 games over two months, it’s unlikely that the Cleveland Indians will trade their best player this summer.

Lindor will probably finish the season in Cleveland for a few reasons. Among them is the possibility of the playoffs being canceled.

Two executives suggested to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal that suitors might not be willing to trade top prospects in case COVID-19 prevents October baseball from happening.

Lindor is signed through the 2021 season. If there is no 2020 postseason, a team that trades for Lindor this year might only have him on the roster for one playoff run.

Rosenthal also notes that more teams will be in contention at this year’s trade deadline than is usually the case.

Had the season gone as planned, the trade deadline would’ve been on July 31, giving Cleveland more than 100 games to figure out if it could compete for a championship. In the abbreviated 60-game season, the new Aug. 31 deadline is scheduled for six weeks after Opening Day. Fewer games mean less of a chance that the Indians will play themselves out of contention.

Cleveland fielded offers for Lindor in the offseason, ultimately deciding they would not be getting enough in return for the superstar. All signs indicate that the shortstop won’t sign a contract extension with the Indians over the next year and a half.

After seeing the underwhelming return that the Boston Red Sox received in exchange for Mookie Betts, who is only a year away from free agency, Cleveland might have been inclined to trade Lindor during the season.

Lindor hit .284/.335/.518 with 32 home runs in 143 games last season. Cleveland missed the playoffs for the first time since 2015, going 93-69 for a second-place finish in the AL Central.