Cincinnati Reds: Possible trade packages for Francisco Lindor

2. MLB talent heads to Cleveland

If the Cleveland Indians aren’t as interested in a complete rebuild, perhaps they’d prefer to deal Francisco Lindor for some affordable major league talent. Lindor is predicted by MLB Trade Rumors to haul in $16.7M through arbitration this winter. Rather than focus on prospects, maybe Cleveland want some major league-ready players in return.

Prospects are just that until they prove it at the major league level. As Reds fans, we’ve seen some “can’t miss” prospects come through the doors at Great American Ball Park and fall flat on their faces. Remember Brandon Larson? Yikes! Maybe the Indians would prefer some more established MLB talent.

So, who among the Reds might be on the trading block if the Indians came calling? Given the pursuit of another outfielder this offseason, I think it’s safe to say that Jesse Winker’s spot on the roster is precarious. If the right deal came along, I think Winker could be a valuable part of a potential trade. He’s still pre-arbitration eligible, and may be more comfortable as a DH in the American League.

Tyler Mahle is another name to consider. With the recent signing of Wade Mahle, Mahle’s spot on the team seems shaky at best. While Mahle still holds value as a future part of the Reds rotation, if dealing Mahle was essential to landing Lindor, I’d do that in a heartbeat.

Freddy Galvis also makes a ton of sense. Moving Lindor would require the Indians to find a shortstop, and Galvis possesses some pop in his bat and a steady glove for only $5.5M next season. Galvis could be a nice stopgap option for Cleveland, as their No. 3 prospect Tyler Freeman is expected to be ready for the big leagues in 2021.

Another couple names to consider would be Tucker Barnhart, who’s a solid catcher with a team-friendly deal, and Josh VanMeter, who’ll likely be nothing more than a utility player in Cincinnati next season. A lot of these players mentioned are fan favorite in the Queen City, but landing Francisco Lindor would make folks forget about some of those players rather quickly.