Guardians & Padres
Submitted by: mheller15
Guardians
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luis Campusano | Minors | C | 32.1 | 25.7 | 32.1 | 38.5 | ||||||
| Joey Cantillo | Minors | LHP | 6 | 4.8 | 6 | 7.2 | ||||||
| Joshua Mears | Minors | OF | 2.4 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 2.9 |
Total Value:
40.5
Padres
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Lindor | 26 | Majors | SS | Medium | 1.3 | 67.7 | 32.5 | 35.2 | 35.2 | 42 | 48.7 |
Total Value:
42
Comments
4Cleveland's goals in any Lindor trade has included a least a player that is MLB ready and controllable at a position of need. They have not been interested in trading for a package of only prospects. Cleveland is a contender in 2020 after winning 93 games last year despite an injury riddled year. They have the starting pitching at this time to definitely compete. I doubt that the Indians trade Francisco Lindor until after the 2020 season.
Also, Cleveland can control Roberto Perez, their Gold Glove catcher, through 2022 if they pick up his affordable 2022 option.
The Padres would be a great team for Cleveland to trade with if they were interested in a rebuild. The Padres have many interesting prospects that Cleveland would be interested in. However, the Indians are not interested in a rebuild hence Lindor is still a Cleveland Indian. The most talked about trade rumor of the offseason was Cleveland's interest in Gavin Lux in a Lindor trade to the Dodgers. Lux would have plugged in to Lindor's spot and the Indians would still contend. That was their goal in Lindor trade, to thread the needle, get younger, and still contend. A controllable MLB ready piece was the goal in any Lindor trade. The strength of the improving Indian Farm System is at the younger levels. Hence, the goal for a MLB ready piece. Cleveland would want no part of Wil Meyers and his horrible contract. I also don't see Josh Naylor, Cordero, or the like being what the Indians are looking for. Neither Campusano and Cantillo are close to MLB ready as each only have reached the A+ level of the minor leagues. Campusano's development will be further hindered by the lack of a 2020 minor league season. At best. Campusano will be ready by the end of 2021 and Cantillo 2022 at the earliest. Cleveland values defense first at the catcher position. I question whether Campusano's defense will meet their needs. That does not help the Indians in 2020 or 2021 when they control one of the best starting pitching staffs in MLB. As far as lefty starters, the Indians have Logan Allen and Scott Moss who they received in the Trevor Bauer trade from the Padres and Reds respectively. The Indians also recently drafted another Logan Allen, a second round lefty starter from Florida International University to add to their system. Cleveland had done well with drafting college pitchers with Shane Bieber (4th round), Aaron Civale (3rd round), and Zach Plesac (12th round) all college pitchers in the 2016 draft. As long as the Indians plan to contend, which is their stated organizational goal, I don't see a Lindor trade with the Padres. I also don't understand a Lindor trade from the Padre viewpoint. Acquiring Lindor would force Fernando Tatis to change positions to 2B or OF. Lindor is a gold glove shortstop so Tatis would have to move. How much do you want to mess around with a talent like Tatis?
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I'm skeptical on who SD would actually be willing & able to include in a deal that is both MLB ready now and cost-controllable. If CLE deals Lindor, that alone signals that they don't plan to contend in 2020 or 2021. Look through their roster. You think CLE wants to take on Wil Myers' contract? Would you deem Franchy Cordero MLB ready based on an injury-riddled cup of coffee in the bigs? Some possible pieces that may be included would be Josh Naylor or an arm such as Baez or Munoz, but all 3 of them aren't exactly proven big league regulars, themselves, at this point. Campusano is very close to being big league ready. With Roberto Perez becoming an UFA after 2021, Campusano would be a perfect successor. If they feel Bo Naylor's defense is better, heck, throw him in there instead, and have Campusano platoon with Bobby Bradley at 1B, since Carlos Santana's deal is up after this season. Castillo is close to being big league ready, and he would give CLE a much needed LHP in their system. CLE historically gets the most out of their pitching prospects too. And Sears is a really intriguing bat. I think this deal fits their needs perfectly. Especially with the uncertain nature of the 2020 season, Cleveland may be keen on receiving as much value as possible for Lindor while they can. Even if CLE only receives prospects in return, they will still field an MLB roster that is more than capable of competing for a WC spot in the AL, if they are able to make some additions through FA or other trades.