Francisco Lindor isn’t “off the table” for a trade at the August 3 deadline, even with a brutal 0.5 rWAR season and a massive $185.8 million still on his deal through 2031. The last-place New York Mets are ready to sell off assets, but they’re not exactly shopping their five-time All-Star shortstop, and his full no-trade clause complicates everything. Still, teams are eyeing him, especially with a light free-agent bat market coming this winter, and they’re cooking up some wild ideas.
The Lindor Problem Isn’t Stopping Anyone
Dude, a contract like Lindor’s, plus his no-trade clause and that 0.5 rWAR? That’s a triple threat of trouble for any trade. But here’s the kicker: the Mets’ owner Steve Cohen isn’t just looking to dump salary. Remember what they did with Justin Verlander in 2023? Payroll relief alone won’t cut it. They want controllable major leaguers or prospect talent back, real pieces for the future. So, for a “serious bid,” teams gotta offer something substantial, something that makes sense beyond just shedding that huge contract. It’s a high-wire act, trying to get value for a guy who’s playing rough but still has superstar potential.
Cleveland’s Nostalgia Trip Gets Real
Talk about wild, one proposal has the Cleveland Guardians swooping in! They’d get Lindor and the Mets would *pay* them $80 million in cash. Seriously, the Mets would eat a chunk of that $185.8 million contract just to get a deal done. In return, the Mets snag shortstop Brayan Rocchio, who’s only 25, under club control through 2029, and get this, leads Cleveland hitters with a 2.5 rWAR! They’d also get MLB No. 34 prospect Angel Genao, a guy who could play third or second base and is a plus hitter with a keen baseball mind. For Cleveland, it’s pure nostalgia bait to bring Lindor back for a World Series push in an “wide-open” American League. For the Mets, Rocchio gives them an instant plug-and-play shortstop, and Genao adds more quality hitting to the system.
LA’s Big Swing and Bigger Headache
Then there’s the Los Angeles Dodgers, always in on the big names. Their proposal? They’d grab Lindor and another $25 million from the Mets. In exchange, the Mets would take RHP Edwin Díaz’s $46.8 million contract and get LHP Justin Wrobleski, an All-Star who the Dodgers might feel is expendable once Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are back from the injured list. The real drama here? Mookie Betts would have to move back to second base from shortstop to make room for Lindor. That’s a huge ask for a future Hall of Famer who’s not exactly struggling at short. It’s a fascinating chess match playing out before the August 3 deadline, with every team trying to find that one wild move that changes everything.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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