It's also important to note, though, that it was a position created by an ownership group that steadfastly refuses to spend the money necessary to keep its elite talent. Lindor can do it all. ... Steve Cohen makes splash as Mets grab star SS Francisco Lindor … 6-keys: media/spln/mlb/reg/free/stories, at The New York Mets agreed to a six-player trade with Cleveland on Thursday that will net them All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor and right-handed starter Carlos Carrasco in exchange for a … All Rights Reserved. The question was this: Where would he go? It’s been almost two weeks since the New York Mets pulled off their blockbuster trade for Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor. Who knows. Here’s how the trade breaks down. Chris Antonetti: "I was in tears in the conversations with Carlos [Carrasco] and Francisco [Lindor]. He’s still developing, but Rosario hadn’t developed into the player the Mets hoped he would be, which is why they’re moving him in the deal for Lindor. He’s been an All-Star quality MVP candidate from the moment he arrived in the bigs, and he’s still only 27 years old (his birthday was in November). The question was what they would do, and Lindor always made sense. Where he can't compete is at the plate, where he neither walks nor hits the ball hard. The trade rumors have followed Lindor over the past few offseasons, but on Thursday a deal finally came to fruition, as shortstop Lindor and starter Carlos Carrasco were traded to the Mets in exchange for infielders Andrés Giménez and Amed Rosario, along with two of the Mets’ top-10 prospects, Josh Wolf and Isaiah Greene. Outside of 2019, when he was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, he's been a reliably above-average starter who doubles as a well-regarded figure in the clubhouse. Carrasco is, then, a luxury for a Mets rotation already slated to feature Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman, and, eventually, Noah Syndergaard. In the field, he's a splendid defensive shortstop. Wherever he plays, he'll need to hit more to stick around town for long. For as good as Cleveland's front office is -- and this is a team that has the second-most wins since 2013 -- it's hard to overcome an owner who handcuffs the baseball operations department at every turn. Wolf struck out 12 in his eight rookie-league innings in 2019. With this deal, the payroll for 2021 is down around the $50 million mark, which is incredibly tiny. On one side you have the totally invested Cohen, who is doing his darndest to make people forget that he's inspired headlines explaining why he isn't in jail; on the other you have the weary Larry Dolan, who fluctuates between missing the point on his franchise's nickname and destroying his front office's negotiating leverage with his public displays of indifference. Francisco Lindor trade makes the Mets big winners this week as they now have the best player in town. Francisco Lindor Talks Mets, Pizza and Contract Extensions In a news conference following his trade from Cleveland, the star shortstop showed … Cleveland traded franchise icon Francisco Lindor on Thursday, and absolutely zero people in baseball were surprised. His contract guarantees him $27 million over the next two years. Mets and Indians finalizing blockbuster Francisco Lindor trade Per a report, the New York Mets and Cleveland Indians are finalizing a monster trade … Wolf was the Mets’ second-round choice in 2019 and Greene was the club’s second-round pick in 2020. Need to know: There was never any real doubt that the Mets, under new owner Steve Cohen, would make a splashy move this offseason. That uncertainty should, theoretically, help the Mets' odds of retaining Lindor. Lindor is, of course, a star. Regardless of what the Mets do next -- and, to be clear, they should remain aggressive on upmarket targets -- this trade is a major boon for their 2021 chances. As such, we've decided to break down the trade while providing grades for each team. Carrasco, who turns 34 in March, had a 2.91 ERA/3.59 FIP for Cleveland last year in a dozen starts and was a big reason the club made the postseason. Rosario would seem to be a non-tender candidate if he performs as he did last season, hitting .252/.272/.371 (76 OPS+) without much in the way of positive underlying indicators. He’s under contract for $12 million each of the next two seasons, with a club option at $14 million for 2023 (with a $3 million buyout). Prior to the pandemic, he had reeled off four consecutive seasons in which he had amassed five-plus Wins Above Replacement. Lindor is more than just a smile and a nickname, though. Lindor will be … They could open the season with him at short if they want Gimenez to enjoy more minor-league seasoning. Adding Lindor, a face-of-the-franchise type, without sacrificing much in terms of the big-league roster or the farm system is a no-brainer. You have to really, really reach, which is the most surefire indicator that he is a franchise player. He's coming off a season in which he posted a 2.91 ERA (157 ERA+) and a 3.04 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The question was what they would do, and Lindor always made sense. Wolf is a 6-foot-3 right-hander with mid-rotation upside. © 2004-2021 CBS Interactive. Look at the impact Betts made on the Dodgers. He's arguably the closest thing this trade has to a centerpiece and a sure thing, but that doesn't mean he has a star-caliber ceiling. Mets fans will be upset if a deal is not reached; one thing Cohen has plenty of is money, after all. The question with Lindor and the Mets, of course, is this: Will they sign him to a long-term contract extension? It's unclear what kind of contract Lindor has on his vision board. Gimenez, 22, has five years of team control remaining after he spent all of last season in the majors. They got Francisco Freakin' Lindor! Gimenez's pull-happy ways also make him easier to defend against, capping his batting average. Francisco Lindor, New York Mets — 10 years, $341 million. Beyond that, the Lindor trade could have repercussions for the Giants down the line. The New York Mets have acquired All-Star Francisco Lindor from Cleveland, the teams announced Thursday, ending the long-anticipated saga of the dynamic shortstop's trade from a … Like us on Facebook to see similar stories, Floyd attorney: Guilty verdict in Chauvin trial could set precedent, Supreme Court lifetime appointments opposed by 63% of Americans: Poll. Need to know: Look, here's the thing: Everyone in baseball knew that Cleveland was going to trade Lindor at some point either this offseason or during the season, which put the Cleveland front office in a difficult position. SN's Ryan Fagan explains his 2021 Hall of Fame ballot. We got our answer Thursday. Realmuto. Carrasco, meanwhile, would've received his 10-5 rights -- the power to veto any trade that comes with 10 years of service and five with the same team -- early on in the upcoming season. Those are the kinds of gains the Mets have to make if they're going to knock off the Atlanta Braves from the top of the division. Both have big upsides, of course, but with the minor leagues shut down in 2020, neither played actual games against other opponents last year. The Mets' MLB futures odds at William Hill Sportsbook changed dramatically with the deal. Lindor is the newest member of the New York Mets. It's no mistake that Lindor's contract is … Giménez made his big league debut at 21 years old in 2020, playing 49 games, stealing eight bases, posting a .333 on-base percentage and a 102 OPS+. 3 players the Cleveland Indians should get from the Mets in trade for Francisco Lindor. Lindor can become a free agent after the 2021 season, and there was very little chance the Cleveland ownership group would agree to spend the type of money it would take to sign their superstar shortstop to a long-term deal. Facebook; Twitter; Facebook Messenger; Email Here's an instance where it does not appear that Cleveland was able to rise above Dolan -- even though this trade contains the components we expected a Lindor trade would. Kind of a sad commentary, isn’t it? Rather, Gimenez is likely to settle in as a second-division starter. Here’s how the trade breaks down. That Lindor and Carrasco were traded this winter shouldn't come as a surprise. Both of the prospects are recent second-round picks with minimal professional experience. With Francisco Lindor on board, the Mets are shaping up to be one of the most talked-about and competitive clubs in 2021. 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