Mets Acquire Francisco Lindor

Photo Via: Bleacher Report

The New York Mets have tapped into the trade market. Here is a breakdown of the full trade:

New York Mets Receive: Shortstop Francisco Lindor and Starting Pitcher Carlos Carrasco.

Cleveland Indians Receive: Shortstop Amed Rosario, Shortstop Andrés Giménez, Outfielder Isaiah Greene, and Pitcher Josh Wolf.

Francisco Lindor is in the final year of team control before becoming eligible for free agency, so it is likely the Mets and Lindor are already deep into extension talks to keep the switch-hitting shortstop in Queens for a long time. Lindor played in all 60 of Cleveland’s games in 2020 and has played in at least 158 games in three of his four full seasons in the majors. Lindor is a four-time All-Star, Platinum Glove winner, two-time Gold Glove winner, and two-time Silver Slugger. Spotrac estimates that Lindor will receive $19.5 million for the 2021 season, at age 27.

Carlos Carrasco will be 34 years old for the 2021 season. Carrasco has been extremely reliable for the better part of the last seven seasons. He is due to make $12 million for each of the next two seasons, with a $14 million club option for the 2023 season (with a $3 million buyout). The club option is guaranteed if Carrasco throws 170 or more innings in 2022. After his leukemia diagnosis in 2019, Carrasco returned to the mound and steadily improved with a very solid 2020 season. The Venezuelan right-hander had a 2.91 ERA and a 10.9 K/9 rate in 68 innings pitched. On his own, Carrasco would be the headline for a trade, but Mets fans should not let Lindor overshadow the fact that the organization also obtained a legitimate veteran starting pitcher.

Andrés Giménez and Amed Rosario were each top prospects in recent seasons, but neither has fully developed in the major leagues yet. Both shortstops, Giménez, 22, debuted in 2020 and played 49 games with 3 home runs and 8 stolen bases and a .263 batting average. Rosario, 25, debuted in the 2017 season. In 403 games since then, he has hit .268 with a .302 on-base percentage. Rosario has three years of team control remaining. Although Giménez and Rosario were top prospects, the Mets new top prospect at shortstop, Ronny Mauricio, was not traded in the deal.

Isaiah Greene was drafted in the second round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of Corona High School in California. At only 19 years old, Greene will be a prospect piece for Cleveland for multiple seasons.

Josh Wolf was also drafted in the second round by the Mets, but in 2019. The now 20-year-old pitched one season of Rookie Ball that year. He had a 3.38 ERA and struck out 12 batters in 8 innings. Wolf clearly does not have the buildup in terms of innings, and is likely multiple seasons away from starting games in the majors.

This is the first mega-move in the tenure of new GM Jared Porter and Steve Cohen as the majority owner of the Mets. Cohen, the richest owner in baseball, maintained clear intentions to spend this offseason. Cleveland and New York were perfect trade partners for this reason. Cleveland is loudly reducing expenses while the Mets are vocal about spending. Cleveland has now traded Lindor, Carrasco, Trevor Bauer, Mike Clevinger, and Corey Kluber all within the last year and a half. Controlling Owner and CEO Paul Dolan previously told Cleveland fans to “enjoy (Lindor)” while they still can. Now, Mets fans will get to enjoy Lindor at shortstop, and their team is likely not done yet this offseason.