Ineligible Man Downfield: Rip off the Francisco Lindor band-aid
Plus updates on Denzel Ward and Wyatt Teller.
The sooner, the better, unfortunately.
In another, more perfect world, the Cleveland baseball team would not be trading Franciso Lindor. Assuming he wanted to stay, Lindor would get a massive deal, be the face of the franchise for the next decade and life would go on.
That, though, is not the world that exists. Lindor is getting traded, probably sooner rather than later. The package will be analyzed, and maybe some of it will be good. But it won’t be Lindor. It’ll be weird to see him in a Blue Jays or Dodgers or Yankees or whatever team trades for him’s jersey.
This isn’t new — Lindor and his ever-dwindling time in Cleveland (and what that says about Indians ownership) has been a (if not the) topic of discussion for years. But it’s now time to just fully rip off the band-aid and get on with it. Fans will be better off for it because they can move on. The team will be too, frankly — they can now try and build without him and actually build in a way they’ve clearly wanted to. Better to do it now before it becomes a daily talking point next season.
It is possible that Cleveland is getting bad offers right and that’s part of the reason why a deal hasn’t happened. The whole league knows they need to trade him, teams will probably be cost-conscious and an exceptional shortstop market awaits next summer. Chris Antonetti and his team are likely trying to get the best deal they think they can get. The questions then become a) what’s the least they’d take? and b) would they be willing to hold out and take this into the season?
Ultimately, will trading Lindor change how anyone feels about why he has to be traded? No. Fans will rightfully be frustrated by the Dolan’s frugality. Ownership and the front office will cite economics and losses from the pandemic. The cut underneath the band-aid will be exposed and probably sting as it heals. Healing will take time. But it’s better to just get on with it. The wound’s already festered for too long. — Chris Manning
Fran’s on First
Franmil Reyes’s first “full” season in Cleveland was preceded by preparation to play right field. The slugger wound up playing one (1) game in the outfield in 2020, with his other 58 appearances coming at designated hitter.
Well, get excited, folks. Reyes was shown on his private Instagram account on Wednesday, getting reps in at first base. Could the 6-foot-5, 275 lb. Franimal find a new habitat in the infield?
Let us ignore that, based on prior trials that were likely the most logical, Reyes will likely not sniff a new position other than “hitter.” If it does happen, Reyes will be providing his squad with a lot more flexibility with their roster in 2021 and beyond. By moving a hulking power-hitter from the outfield to first base (technically), Cleveland does reduce his value quite a bit, but playing either spot competently will be an improvement.
First base and the outfield will continue to be the team’s biggest positional needs, at least until shortstop becomes significantly downgraded. When Francisco Lindor does get traded, the hope is that Cleveland will get better somewhere in return.
The Athletic’s Zack Meisel and Kaitlyn McGrath kicked around the idea of a Lindor-to-Toronto trade, which could actually coincide nicely with Reyes moving to first. The Blue Jays have an array of moveable outfielders like Cavan Biggio, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and Teoscar Hernandez, all three of which would be an upgrade on any of Cleveland’s current outfielders.
A package that included one of that trio would make a (Former Jay)-Zimmer-Naylor outfield, eliminating much need for Reyes to see the outfield, while the team carries both Jordan Luplow and Oscar Mercado. Reyes’s ability to play first would give José Ramírez the ability to take a day off from the field, while still getting he and the Franimal’s bats in the lineup. It would also get Nolan Jones more opportunities, should he make the big leagues as expected.
Versatility is always good, and always something the triumvirate of Chris Antonetti, Mike Chernoff, and Terry Francona covet. Reyes adding versatility to his game would go a long way in maximizing Cleveland’s lineup in 2021, while making the likes of Jake Bauers and Bobby Bradley earn their at-bats. — Alex Hooper
ICYMI
Gov. DeWine says the state’s curfew doesn’t apply to Browns games
Kevin Stefanski has the third-best odds to win Coach of the Year
Here’s Cleveland’s new minor league structure
Denzel Ward is considered day-to-day
Baker Mayfield named FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week
How the Rule 5 Draft played out for the Cleveland baseball team
Andrew Berry says Baker deserves a ‘lot of credit’ for his approach to the season
Baker says the Browns are a ‘completely different’ team from their Week 1 loss to the Ravens
The Browns have a contingency plan in place for Wyatt Teller
One thing to read today
At Everybody Hates Cleveland, Matt Hattery on expectations for Nolan Jones
Who we are
Chris Manning: Site Manager at Fear the Sword, co-host of the Locked on Cavs podcast, words at places like Cleveland Magazine and Forbes. On Twitter @cwmwrites
Jordan Zirm: Social editor at @TheCheckdown. Formerly of ESPN Cleveland. Words at B/R, SB Nation and UPROXX. Host of The Rebuild podcast. On Twitter @clevezirm
Alex Hooper: Contributor at Fantasy Sports Insight. Former Cleveland Baseball Club beat writer for 92.3 the Fan (WKRK), and contributor at Sports Illustrated, Let’s Go Tribe, and the News-Herald. On Twitter @lexhooper.
Photo: USA Today