Bleacher Report · Mar 10, 2020
Francisco Lindor Stalemate with Indians the Ultimate Test Case for Trading Stars
MLBEthan Miller/Getty Images
When is the ideal time to trade an MLB star? When should a team caught between a retool and a rebuild shed one of its most significant pieces?
Those are important, difficult questions. The Cleveland Indians are wrestling with both as they decide how to handle the Francisco Lindor situation.
Unless the Indians sign their franchise shortstop to an expensive extension, Lindor will be a free agent after the 2021 season.
They don't have to trade him now. But his trade value might never be higher. And, according to The Athletic's Jason Lloyd, extension talks between Lindor and Cleveland have been suspended.