Dodgers: Possible trade packages for Francisco Lindor

A Prospect-Heavy Approach

While prospects are likely to be involved, it would be tough to rule out Major League pieces. In the Bauer trade, the Indians got back Franmil Reyes, a right fielder who could DH in the future, and Logan Allen, a rookie left-handed starter.

Reyes, 24 years old, will not hit free agency until 2025. Allen, 22 years old, has a much shakier timetable, as he still is under his rookie deal since his service time clock has yet to start.

If the Dodgers can provide pieces similar to Reyes and Allen to go along with Lindor, then they should be able to get a deal done. So who fits this mold?

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Obviously the Indians would argue Gavin Lux and Dustin May would be perfect prospects to headline a Lindor deal, but they really don’t have that sort of bargaining advantage in my opinion, and neither does Morosi. He brings up Keibert Ruiz, Josiah Gray, and Jeter Downs, the third-, fourth-, and fifth-rated prospects in the Dodgers system.

While I think that dealing all three of these players for Lindor would potentially be an overpay, it also just would make no sense. Where would you play Lindor if you kept the rest of your infield?

That’s why I’d argue the Seager-Taylor-prospect trade framework makes the most sense in terms of roster flexibility for the Dodgers, and in terms of return for the Indians. The Indians have four right-handed pitchers within their top-15 prospects according to MLB.com. The Dodgers have six, with three ranked in the top six overall prospects.

This makes a right-handed pitching prospect a potential trade option to clip onto Seager and Taylor. Beyond May and Gray, the only top right-handed pitching prospect the Dodgers have is Tony Gonsolin, who surely would be tough for the Indians to snag.

More than likely, the third player involved would be Mitchell White or Dennis Santana. White is 24 years old and was projected to debut in 2019, as he pitched well in Triple-A in 2019. Here’s his MLB.com outlook:

"He has the upside of a mid-rotation starter who can generate more than his share of swings and misses as well as ground-ball contact. He also could be a high-leverage reliever who could concentrate on attacking hitters with his fastball and breaking balls."

Santana also was projected to debut in 2019 based on his Triple-A status (which he briefly did). Here’s MLB.com’s take on the 23-year old righty:

"Santana sometimes struggles to command his pitches because he has so much life on his fastball and utilizes a crossfire delivery. He does throw enough strikes for Los Angeles and most scouts to project him as a starter, with one organization rating him as the system’s best prospect at the outset of 2019. If he winds up in the bullpen, he has the stuff to serve as a setup man or perhaps even a closer."

All in all, the Indians will likely require a prospect in addition to any Seager-based package for Lindor, and personally, I’m all for that sort of deal.