5 potential trade proposals for Lindor

The Cleveland Indians are soliciting the best and final offers from clubs interested in four-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger, and two-time Gold Glove winner Francisco Lindor.

The 26-year-old is one of the most marketable superstars in the game, but the Indians' recent willingness to shed salary means they're "seriously considering" a trade. Lindor is projected to earn $16.7 million next year in arbitration, according to MLB Trade Rumors, and will likely get an even more substantial raise in 2021, his final season before free agency.

Here's a look at five competitive offers for Lindor:

Cincinnati Reds

Why it works: The Reds fit as the best possible trade partner for the Indians on paper, and they're reportedly interested.

Assembling a package around the club's last two first-round selections in Lodolo (seventh overall in 2019) and India (fifth overall in 2018) seems most logical. Cleveland seems to have interest in Nick Senzel, but the utility prospect figures to be a key contributor in the Reds' present and future plans, so it's best to assume he's off limits. It would be interesting to see whether Cleveland could lure top prospect Hunter Greene - a hard-throwing right-hander and second overall pick in 2017 - away from the Reds instead of Lodolo.

Meanwhile, Galvis is a league average shortstop and stopgap for the departing Lindor, while DeSclafani helps fill out a rotation that no longer features Corey Kluber.

Why it doesn't work: The clubs brokered a deal as recently as last year, with Cincinnati taking on Trevor Bauer in a three-team trade. However, the two clubs are state rivals, and there may be some hesitation about sending a franchise cornerstone like Lindor to south Ohio.

Even further, the teams may simply hit an impasse due partially to the Reds' prospect depth. If Cleveland has its sights set on Senzel and Greene and Cincinnati deems them untouchable, there may not be enough wiggle room.

There's no question this deal makes the Indians worse - perhaps even much worse - in the near term, so, depending on their outlook for 2020, it may simply not make sense.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Why it works: Let's get nuts! While the Dodgers have reportedly been interested in Lindor, a move for the shortstop alone doesn't really make that much sense. That's why L.A. should make the bold play of throwing in extra to get Clevinger.

There's a legitimate case to be made that both teams get better in the short term with this deal. The Dodgers get two pieces that keep them in World Series contention, in the upper tier with the New York Yankees.

For the Indians, the difference between Seager and Lindor may actually be negligible, and the club gets much-needed depth. Verdugo's an everyday outfielder, Urias fills Clevinger's spot, and Ruiz is an MLB-ready catching prospect who's blocked in L.A. by Will Smith. All four are young and cost-controlled - exactly what Cleveland wants.

Why it doesn't work: We know the Indians are willing to consider Lindor offers, but their willingness to deal Clevinger remains entirely uncertain.

This also may be unpalatable for the Dodgers. Parting with Seager at his lowest value may be a tough sell for two years of Lindor. The club was also seemingly unwilling to deal Verdugo, Urias, and Ruiz on other occasions, so it's fair to assume that it still views them highly. This deal would also leave L.A. with a bit of a hole in the outfield, unless Enrique Hernandez is viewed as an everyday player.

New York Yankees

Why it works: The Yankees have some pieces to spare and, despite arguably possessing the best roster in the bigs, they seem to have an impulse to get even better by chasing Milwaukee Brewers fireman Josh Hader.

At this juncture, though, it no longer makes sense to continue rolling with Andujar and Frazier, with both young stars looking at decreased playing time if they stick around. Moreover, Florial had to be added to the 40-man roster in order to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, and it's unclear if he'll figure onto the 25-man roster in 2020 barring numerous injuries.

Finally, with the way the Yankees are spending, they seem most likely able to offer Lindor a lucrative extension upon landing him in a trade.

Why it doesn't work: There's the small wrinkle that Gleyber Torres - the Yankees' budding star - is the incumbent shortstop. However, moving him to second base and DJ LeMahieu to third could work.

There's also the fact Cleveland drafted Frazier and was the team to originally trade the outfielder to New York, in exchange for Andrew Miller. That's not really a knock, though, as perhaps the team would be more willing to take on a player it's familiar with and helped develop.

Atlanta Braves

Why it works: The Braves haven't won a playoff series since 2001 - they've been bounced in nine consecutive trips. Making a splashy move for a franchise-altering shortstop may be what they need, and they've got a deep enough farm system to pull it off.

Pache and Wright are two premium, major-league ready prospects, which naturally seems to be a big selling point for Cleveland. And with this deal, the Braves would maintain outfielder Drew Waters and pitcher Ian Anderson, who could also figure into their near- and long-term plans.

Why it doesn't work: The deal would involve giving up on Swanson after a bit of a breakout in the first half of 2019. The former first overall pick will turn 26 in February, and it may hurt to part with him after memorably giving up Shelby Miller to get him. It probably helps, though, that no matter what happens to Swanson, that Miller trade is viewed as one of the most lopsided deals in recent memory.

This deal also probably doesn't help Cleveland's outlook in 2020, but that can almost be said about any scenario in which the team trades Lindor. Still, there's enough depth to the Braves' system that they could plug in an extra piece or two, with Austin Riley and Shea Langeliers as potential options.

San Diego Padres

Why it works: The Padres are aggressively trying to get better for the upcoming season and beyond, and notably flamed out on recruiting either Stephen Strasburg and Gerrit Cole in free agency.

Secondly, San Diego is seemingly interested in Lindor - with rumors of a corresponding move by Fernando Tatis Jr. to center field - but that could simply be to keep him away from the division-rival Dodgers.

Why it doesn't work: The problem is that despite the Padres' deep system, San Diego has nothing that really fits Cleveland's needs or keeps it relevant in 2020. Margot is essentially another Delino DeShields Jr., and the Indians didn't even really need DeShields - acquired in the Kluber trade - in the first place.

That's why the Padres would almost definitely have to part with Gore and Patino - two of the top pitching prospects in baseball - which is something they're probably unwilling to do. Gore is the No. 4 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, and the left-hander's struck out minor leaguers easily so far in his young career. Meanwhile, Patino has been the brightest rising star in the minors over the past two years.