December 21st, 2019 at 8:00 am 
by 0799291000348 It was reported on Friday, December 20 that the Cleveland Indians have asked MLB teams interested in acquiring shortstop Francisco Lindor for their respective best and final offers, or ‘BAFO,’ as they are often referred. Those offers will be considered by Indians executives over the weekend, presumably to make a decision before December 25, 2019, whether or not to trade their 26-year old All-Star. For Dodgers fans who wish to put on their GM hats, this is your opportunity to construct and submit what you believe to be a reasonable package for the 26-year-old switch-hitting Lindor.
(Photo credit – Joshua Gunter)
As much as you might want to make a blockbuster deal with the Indians that also includes either starting pitcher Mike Clevinger or closer Brad Hand, please consider only Lindor when constructing your offer.
A few bits of information to consider as you prepare your trade proposal:
- Lindor has stated that he will test free agency after the 2021 season, so he could be a two-season rental;
- He is not represented by Scott Boras;
- The Dodgers will be ~ $120M below the Competitive Balance Tax threshold after the 2020 season;
- Corey Seager, who is a Boras client, is eligible for free agency after the 2021 season;
- The Indians do not have a ready-now shortstop replacement for Lindor; and,
- Indians are looking for help at second base, and the outfield.
My BAFO for Lindor? – Joc Pederson, Chris Taylor, Ross Stripling, Edwin Rios, and Devin Mann.
What is your BAFO package?
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Posted in 
AJ Pollock For Lindor Straight up
I very much approve of this trade.
I am on-board!
Sure, A J Pollock for Lindor. I love their chocolates.
Certainly, I’d not be inclined to give away any prospect that the LA organization had plans for, to get a rental. It is not the Dodger’s MO to offer FAs what is necessary to sign them as compared to the offers of more desperate teams. If the tribe would take Seager, Pederson, and one of second tier prospects, I could live with that.
However, other than stolen bases (which LA does not value) how much better is Lindor than Seager anyway? Better with the glove perhaps but it’s not like Seager hurt us. I’d as soon show Seager we value him as a player and take his name out of trade considerations. We’ll need a third baseman in a year, assuming Lux is the better SS. Sadly, the wild spending on FA signing, and the luxury tax, makes it impossible for clubs to retain their own talent except maybe one.There should be some credit given to clubs to sign their own.
I think, if the Dodgers are to give up talent for Lindor, it should be mostly prospects, not much from the 26 man roster.
Actually I’d rather have Mookie Betts instead.
OK, you have the GM hat on; who do you send to the Indians for Lindor? No harm no foul in this effort; whatever you are willing to trade is in your control to offer in your BAFO
I believe that the Dodgers shouldn’t think twice about extending Corey Seager RIGHT NOW. He will never come any cheaper.
That being said, this is definitely not Boras’ M.O.
Absolutely! My fear is that Dodgers already know that Boras will have Seager test the free agent market as he is entering his prime physical years.
I would do your BAFO in a heartbeat! I hope that is what it would take, as we would hold onto Seager,… https://t.co/fgFdDruyn1
My hope as well
1. Cleveland’s got a pretty good team.
2. With their pitching they probably think they can compete in 2020.
3. They have a very young 40 man roster. Including 4 yrs of future control over Jose Ramirez.
4. They are a small market team and cash strapped.
5. They know the fans will hate them for trading Lindor, but he’s gone in two years and his trade value will never be higher.
So what do they want? Young, cheap, prospects or MLB talent with lots of years of control. Enough to fill some current holes and keep them competitive, with a potential future stud they can tell the fans they are VERY high on.
The future stud: Jeter Downs, 85th MLB ranked prospect and a future SS.
Then I give them their choice of 3 maybe 4 of the following:
Pederson (27 yrs old, 1 yr control), Matt Beaty (26 yrs old, 6 yrs control), Kyle Garlick (27 yrs old, 6 yrs control) One of either Pederson or Beaty.
Austin Barnes (29 yrs old, 3 yrs control), Connor Wong (23 yrs old, 6 yrs control)
Chris Taylor (29 yrs old, 2 yrs control), Kiki Hernandez (28 yrs old, 1 yr control) Only one of these.
Kenta Maeda (31 yrs old, 4 yrs control), Ross Stripling (30 yrs old, 3 yrs control) Only one of these unless we sign Ryu.
Downs may be the key piece for a Lindor trade with Lux off the table. I hate to see him go with both Seager and Lindor eligible for free agency after 2021, but it may not be avoidable if the team really wants Lindor.
Jesse, Seager and Lindor have 2 years of team control so IDK. But I would offer them guys not named Bellinger, Lux, Muncy (LHB here) but I would certainly make available a couple of other LH batters such as Joc, Beaty , Rios and or pitchers not named May or Gonsolin. I would prefer Betts but he’s a FA after 2020 so Boston could not rightfully expect too much for him. Lindor is fine but being a switch hitter someone mentioned he is much better hitting LH as opposed to RH and that part of it does not help Dodgers much
For his career, Lindor has better stats hitting RH (Baseball Reference), but last season he was better as a LH hitter. My biggest concern with Lindor, and why I would not make a huge offer, away from Cleveland’s home field he is not nearly as good offensively. Same concern I had last year with AJ Pollock
Then when his splits came up they must have been looking at this past year only because if he indeed hits better over all as a RHB then OK. But as you say, his home/road splits would be a concern. However, as I have said before DS is not as pitcher friendly as some in media have made it out to be. But when all is said and done I have doubts that any deal for Lindor or Betts will ultimately be ever made. WSS
Jesse’s package for Lindor would be great, but might not be enough high upside talent.
Keibart Ruiz, Josiah Gray and AJ Pollack for Lindor,
Joc Pederson, Corey Seager, and some top 5/10 prospects for Mookie Betts. Or add David price and skip additional prospects.
Sign Donaldson 4 years, $100,000,000. DH will be national leave by the last year of the deal.
Betts RF
Lindor SS
Muncy 2B
Turner 1B
Bellinger CF
Donaldson 3B
Verdugo LF
Smith C
Pitcher
Buehler Kershaw Price Maeda May/Urias
Bullpen, the usual assortment. Hader could be a nice fit as a player, maybe not so much as a person. Betances would be another nice bounce back candidate with Treinan.
Not likely butWhat a dream team…lol….like your thinking…
FYI – according to baseball trade values, AJ Pollock current has a HUGE negative trade value. I don’t see him as a trade chip for anything other than another bad contract. Even the Mets Cespedes has more trade value than Pollock
I believe the dodgers match up better with redsox. Stripling or maeda, pederson or Verdugo, Beatty garlick Rios or downs.3 or 4 guys from that list for Betts. We get Betts we are vastly improved team.
Not trading Lux May or Ruiz.
What would the Dodgers give for one year rental of Betts (who I love as a player)? Start by considering who the Dodgers traded to the Orioles for 2 months of Manny Machado, who at the time was considered on par with Betts. Leading the package of players was outfielder Yusniel Diaz who was the team’s no. 4 prospect at the time. Also included was second base / third base prospect Rylan Bannon (no. 28) who had a.961 OPS for Rancho Cucamonga, starting pitcher prospect Dean Kremer (no. 27) who had just been promoted to AA after K’ing 114 hitters 79 innings for Rancho Cucamonga , a flame throwing relief pitcher Zach Pop, and utility infielder Breyvic Valera. A comparable package today would be something along the lines of Jeter Downs, infielder Devin Mann, starting pitcher Robins Ortiz, relief pitcher Marshall Kasowski, and utility player Zach McKinstry. But for a full season, and Dodgers would get a compensatory draft pick in return for Betts if he signed elsewhere (no doubt Dodgers would make him a Qualifying Offer) the package would have to be better. A WAG – Jeter Downs, Tony Gonsolin, Ed Rios, Connor Wong, and Marshall Kasowski.
We keep seager try to sign him if not after we win the 2020 world series if we can’t sign him we trade him for a bunch of prospects.
My guess; the Dodgers have already approached Boras and Seager about an extension. Perhaps only a 4 year deal that would let him become a free agent after his age 29 season which would make it easier for the team to part with Jeter Downs. If the Dodgers know / believe that Seager will not sign an extension, then right now is the time to trade him for the best return rather than wait until after 2020. They could move Lux to SS right now. Perhaps Corey Seager to the Cubs for Kris Bryant?
I might do that deal for Kris Bryant. Only issue is result of that hearing about whether he becomes a FA after 1 year instead of the 2 years of control left. In that case if I were the Dodgers, I would work a deal that has Bryant forego his FA and extend him if possible.
I’d do Jesse’s proposed trade though I admit I have a soft spot for Joc especially. I’d hate to see and his 30+ bombs a year go. I DON’T think the Indians will let him go for that package though. But because he’s a goner after 2021 I wouldn’t offer any more.
To make room in the infield for Lindor, you’ve got to be rid of one of Seager, Lux, Muncy, or Turner. The only one that makes sense, unfortunately, is Seager. I say unfortunately because I feel like all signs point to a healthy CS having the monster season everyone’s expected, but many have given up on.
With Seager being a Scott Boras client, it makes sense to move him before his contract expires.
The Dodgers need to give Lux and STOP shopping for a 3rd baseman, once we acquire Lindor we should move Seager to 3rd and Turner across the diamond to 1st.
In my opinion, there is only one third baseman for whom the Dodgers might include Gavin Lux in a trade – Nolan Arenado; and, only if Arenado agrees to waive his 2021 opt out. If Dodgers know that Seager test free agency after the 2021 season, the Lux will not be traded anywhere.
One other thing to consider here is that didn’t Seager express reluctance to be moved to 3rd? I would love to get Arenado but that deal seems pretty much impossible at this time.
“Playoff teams have been the most active in free agency thus far, found Ben Clemens of Fangraphs. 58.6% of free agents worth at least 2 fWAR last season have inked with teams who made the postseason in 2019”.
The competition is improving, so must the Dodgers. I thought the idea of going after Lindor was to add elite talent. If we trade/subtract Seager we haven’t accomplished that much.
I disagree with the comment, “To make room in the infield for Lindor, you’ve got to be rid of one of Seager, Lux, Muncy, or Turner The only one that makes sense, unfortunately, is Seager”. Plenty of room for all five, in my opinion. Dodgers are already planning to try Lux in the outfield in 2020. And what about injury, rest and DHing when playing American League teams? If anybody needs to go it would be Turner, not 25 yr old Seager.
I agree, Dodgers should be exploring an extension with Seager, just as they should be exploring “reasonable” extensions with 25 yr old Buehler, 27 yr old Pederson, 28 yr old Hernandez and others. The “right” contract just makes guys more valuable.
But in Seager’s case, with two more years of control, no need to jettison him this off-season just because we aren’t able to sign an extension, of course all bets off if he is dead set against moving to 3rd if Lindor is acquired. Dodgers have the payroll in good shape and are a financial powerhouse, they can be players in two years for 27 yr old Seager in free-agency if they want.
Dodgers have to ask themselves, why pay the high cost in players/prospects for Lindor if they have to trade Seager to make room for him. If Seager needs to be moved if Lindor is acquired, they better have a satisfactory deal in place at the time Lindor is acquired. It can sometimes be difficult to get equal value for elite talent and we could find we’d be trading Seager at a low.
Might be better to pass on Lindor and use the trade assets, for elite pitching.
Makes sense actually, Package206. But I am not sure I would deal Turner, as he’s one of only a few RHB we have.
And Turner is a fan favorite. Maybe you don’t resign him but don’t trade him away for prospects
Spot on! Turner is one of those guys who can just flat-out hit. Perhaps he and Dodgers can work out a fair extension after this season where he can be a part-time player at third, first, and second while being the primary pinch hitter.
Alr so this could be big dreaming but what about this
– Seager and Beaty for Betts. Because Seager when healthy is an mvp candidate and Beaty could have HIGH value as a DH with a solid but not special glove
As for Lindor
– Smith, Pederson, Gonsolin, Rios and Uceta for Lindor and Clevinger
If I’m the dodgers the top 5 prospects aren’t going anywhere and Rios’ glove has soon to be DH all over it and I was really impressed with smith bat but something tells me it’s streaky similar time grandal but Ruiz could be the catcher of the decade and uceta has high potential with his fastball raising every year and his curveball has became a viable option
If u have any disagreements comment love to hear another point of view
Absolutely cannot give up Smith. Too solid a player and great defensive skills and the pitchers love him.