MLB Rumors: Rick Porcello Signs For New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers To Trade For Francisco Lindor

The MLB hot stove hasn’t cooled one bit since the signings of Stephen Strasburg, Gerrit Cole and Anthony Rendon with the New York Mets landing Rick Porcello and the Los Angeles Dodgers stepping up their pursuit of Francisco Lindor.

MLB Network’s own Ken Rosenthal reports that the Mets and Rick Porcello have agreed to terms on a one-year contract. According to his colleague Jon Heyman, the pact is worth $10 million. The 30-year-old received the AL Cy Young Award with the Boston Red Sox in 2016 when he won 22 games.

For his career, the right-hander is 149-118 with an ERA of 4.36. The Mets view Porcello as a solid addition to a rotation that already boasts another Cy Young winner in Jacob deGrom as well as Noah Syndergaard, Marcus Stroman and Steven Matz.

Meanwhile, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports that the Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Dodgers are talking about a possible trade involving Francisco Lindor. The shortstop does have other suitors such as the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees and Cincinnati Reds.

However, the Tribe feels as though it is the Dodgers who could best meet their needs to complete a deal for Lindor. Cleveland has reportedly asked about L.A.’s two best prospects, Dustin May and Gavin Lux to complete the deal.

Lux is especially important to the trade as the Indians already have a need at second base, where the 22-year-old played in his brief stint with the big club in September. Losing Lindor would also leave a gaping hole at shortstop where Lux played the majority of his minor league ball.

Cleveland also has a need for an outfielder and at least one solid arm from the bullpen. May mostly played as a starter in the Dodgers’ minor league system, however, transitioned into a bullpen role after being called up in August.

May tossed ten consecutive scoreless frames to close out the 2019 MLB regular season and, although Cleveland has a solid starting rotation, would give the Tribe flexibility as a long reliever who could also make situational starts when needed.

There is the feeling around the industry that the Indians would want more than two prospects to part ways with the face of their franchise and would likely ask for an outfielder in addition to both May and Lux.

Meanwhile, 23-year-old Alex Verdugo hit .294 in his rookie campaign in Los Angeles and shows loads of promise. However, the Dodgers would likely be unwilling to part with their three best prospects. They may try to dangle Joc Pederson who just hit 34 home runs in 2019 to get Cleveland to bite.