Lindor to Mets deal being finalized, per reports

MLB Trade Rumors: Francisco Lindor is headed to the New York Mets from the Cleveland Indians, per multiple reports. Ken Rosenthal is saying that the deal is Francisco Lindor and righthanded starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco going to the New York Mets, with Amed Rosario, Andres Jimenez, Josh Wolf and Isaiah Greene going to Cleveland.

The 27 year old Lindor has been one of the best players in baseball the last several years, after having been taken at #8 overall in the 2011 draft. He has widely been viewed as being on the market this offseason, as the Indians were not expected to look to extend him at the price it would likely cost, and also wouldn’t want to let him walk for just a draft pick. The Mets are immediately getting a superstar player, and presumably will seek to engage him in contract extension talks.

Carrasco, who turns 34 in March, was very good for Cleveland from 2015-18, had a bad 2019 season, but then was solid again in 2020. Carrasco is under contract at $12 million per year for 2021 and 2022, and there is a $14 million team option for 2023 with a $3 million buyout.

Wolf, 20, was the Mets’ second round draft pick out of St. Thomas High School in Houston, Texas, in 2019. Wolf received a $2.15 million signing bonus to sign, and is generally a well regarded prospect.

Gimenez, 22, is a lefthanded hitting shortstop who was seen as a top-50 prospect heading into 2019, but whose stock dropped after putting up a 695 OPS in 2019 at AA (albeit as a 20 year old). He slashed .263/.333/.398 in 2020 in the majors for the Mets, and presumably is stepping into Lindor’s shortstop role, though he also played second base and third base in 2020.

Rosario, 25, is also a shortstop. He has a career 2.3 bWAR since 2017, though 2.4 of that was in 2019. He was replacement level by bWAR in 2020, slashing .252/.272/.371.

Greene, 19, was the Mets’ second round pick out of Corona High School in 2020. He has yet to play in an official professional game.