4) A Blue Jays blockbuster
Blue Jays get: SS Francisco Lindor and RHP Triston McKenzie
Indians get: OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr., RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (Blue Jays’ No. 4 prospect), SS Rikelvin De Castro (Blue Jays’ No. 17 prospect) and RHP Julian Merryweather (Blue Jays’ No. 20 prospect).
In a recent piece
looking at potential Lindor fits, my colleague Andrew Simon proposed an ambitious ask on the part of the Indians in a straight-up deal for Lindor. This is a modified version of that deal, with McKenzie’s inclusion a key to improving the surplus value received by the Blue Jays and Cleveland getting a diverse assortment of talent in return.
Given Lindor’s pending free agency, his ho-hum 2020 season, his stark arbitration cost (which could be
somewhere in the neighborhood of $20 million) and the depth of shortstops available in the open market this winter and next, only a small pool of teams justify the dual-acquisition costs of Lindor right now.
But this deal would net the Blue Jays the veteran bat and defensive upgrade they need while also bringing in a live and ready young arm (with six seasons of contractual control) for the rotation. It would also put Toronto in good position to potentially extend Lindor’s stay beyond '21.
With Gurriel gone, Randal Grichuk and Teoscar Hernandez can man the outfield corners, the Blue Jays sign Jackie Bradley Jr. to play center field and -- voila! -- their position player group is ready to rock.
The Indians reel in the instant outfield upgrade they sorely need in Gurriel (who is under control at mostly locked-in and affordable rates through 2024), while also nabbing three good prospects (Merryweather is the young pitcher the Tribe sent to the Blue Jays in the Josh Donaldson trade, so that’s fun) and saving a ton of cash at a time when money isn’t easily moved in the industry. With the books almost totally clear of big money and the farm system dramatically deepened by recent deals, the Tribe gets a reset that could lead to a quick revival.