Christmas may come early for the Blue Jays

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

According to MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal in an article for The Athletic, rival executives have been anticipating that the Blue Jays would be among the big-spending clubs this offseason. The club made the first notable signing of the Hot Stove season when it inked Robbie Ray to a one-year, $8 million deal, and there could be more to come.

One potential target? Lindor, whom many expect will be traded before Opening Day. Lindor is in his final year of arbitration eligibility after earning a prorated portion of his $17.5 million salary in 2020.

As Rosenthal notes, Blue Jays president and CEO Mark Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins were the Indians’ GM and farm director, respectively, when the team selected Lindor with the eighth overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft.

The Blue Jays have Bo Bichette at shortstop, but they could move him to third base to fill their hole there if they can swing a trade for Lindor. Leaving Vlad jr at first base.

Jon Heyman: Yanks more likely to pursue FA shortstop than Lindor trade

 After shortstop Gleyber Torres struggled on defense in 2020, the Yankees have been mentioned as a potential landing spot for Lindor, who is expected to be traded before Opening Day. However, MLB Network insider Jon Heyman said on Monday’s episode of the Big Time Baseball Podcast that Yankees officials have downplayed the possibility of a Lindor trade.Heyman thinks if the club does pursue a shortstop, it is more likely to be a free agent such as Andrelton Simmons or Didi Gregorius.

 Is the Indians trading Lindor a matter of "if," or a matter of "when"?

 A report Thursday from USA Today's Bob Nightengale suggests that Lindor will be in a new uniform on Opening Day 2021.

The Indians intend to trade Lindor by Opening Day and have informed several rival teams of those intentions, according to Nightengale.

That lines up with what MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi is hearing, too: A Lindor deal is looking likely this offseason -- but perhaps "unlikely to happen quickly."

One big reason? Cleveland wants as many suitors in play as possible, and the Mets -- who have a good mix of young, cost-controlled big leaguers like Amed Rosario, Dominic Smith, Brandon Nimmo, Andrés Giménez and others -- might be a potential landing spot.

Thing is, new Mets owner Steve Cohen and team president Sandy Alderson must set up a new office and that will take some time as they interview candidates

Lindor is only a year away from free agency -- he's set to headline what could be the best shortstop class ever in the 2021-22 offseason along with Javier Báez, Carlos Correa, Corey Seager and Trevor Story. But the 26-year-old would still command a high price on the trade market, considering the rarity of a superstar shortstop in his prime.

And, of course, anything could happen in the months between now and the start of the 2021 season. The Indians could always decide to hold onto Lindor, the face of their franchise. But if Lindor is indeed on the block, he'll have no shortage of suitors.While this year’s free-agent class has its share of big names, the highest-profile players to change teams this offseason might actually come via trade. MLB Network insider Jon Heyman lists Lindor, Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant and Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado among his top five trade candidates, along with Astros shortstop Carlos Correa and Mets shortstop Amed Rosario.

Lindor, Bryant, Arenado (opt out) and Correa all can become free agents after the 2021 campaign.

Of the five, Lindor may be the most likely to move, as the Indians appear to be cutting costs with revenues down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Tribe declined options on Brad Hand ($10 million), Carlos Santana ($17.5 million) and Domingo Santana ($5 million), choosing instead to pay $1.75 million in buyouts to the three players, though they did pick up Roberto Pérez’s $5.5 million option.

Cleveland listened to trade offers for Lindor last offseason, but ended up retaining him. In his final year of arbitration eligibility, the shortstop is due to receive a raise from his $17.5 million salary in 2020, when he recorded a career-low 102 OPS+.

Bryant and Arenado were also floated as trade candidates last offseason, but they ended up staying put. Like Lindor, Bryant (73 OPS+), Arenado (84 OPS+) and Correa (92 OPS+) didn’t perform up to expectations in 2020, but all four players have strong track records.

Lindor and Correa will be part of a superstar class of free-agent shortstops a year from now, as the Rockies’ Trevor Story and the Dodgers’ Corey Seager are also due to hit the open market.

Rosario is heading into his age-25 season and is under control through 2023, but he took a step back offensively last season and saw rookie Andrés Giménez emerge as a more productive option.

Heyman names the Mets as a potential landing spot for Lindor, with new owner Steve Cohen looking to make a splash right out of the gate.

Free-agent catcher J.T. Realmuto is at the top of many Mets fans' wish lists, but another option for New York could be to sign outfielder George Springer, then Brandon Nimmo or Dominic Smith with Rosario in a deal for Lindor.