Cincinnati Reds: Possible trade packages for Francisco Lindor

Francisco Lindor is a hot name this offseason, and the Cincinnati Reds could enter the conversation. What kind of trade package could the Reds put together?

Last winter, the Cincinnati Reds made a bold, blockbuster trade that brought Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp, Alex Wood, and Kyle Farmer to town. Might the Reds look to make another blockbuster trade this offseason? Francisco Lindor, quite possibly the best shortstop in the game, is assumed to be available. What would it take for Cincinnati to land the four-time All-Star?

Cincinnati lost shortstop Zack Cozart to free agency two years ago. Cozart manned the position for seven seasons, but in 2018, the Reds decided to move forward with José Peraza as the shortstop of the future. Last season saw Peraza’s bat go quiet and he was non-tendered this offseason.

While José Iglesias flashed some serious leather last season while playing shortstop for the Reds, it appears as though Cincinnati’s front office has no interest in bringing him back. Looking for an offensive upgrade, the Reds were rumored to be after the top shortstop on the market, Didi Gregorius. However, the former Reds farmhand signed with the Philadelphia Phillies.

If the season started today, Freddy Galvis would be the Cincinnati Reds starting shortstop. That’s not the worst thing in the world, as Galvis had a career-high 23 home runs in 2019. However, Galvis has a career on-base percentage below .300 and would likely be hitting in the bottom of the batting order.

Though the Cleveland Indians are not actively shopping Francisco Lindor, it’s assumed that the right offer could entice the Tribe to make a deal. Do the Reds have the goods to make a trade? If so, what might it take to bring Lindor to Cincinnati? Let’s explore a few different scenarios, shall we?

1. Four prospects that could bring Lindor to Cincinnati

After shipping Trevor Bauer to the Cincinnati Reds last season and sending Corey Kluber to the Texas Rangers this winter, it appears as though the Cleveland Indians are entering a rebuilding phase. Fans in Cincinnati know all too well what that feels like, but the fans in Northeast Ohio are likely to receive little sympathy from Reds Country.

If the Indians are going into a full-on rebuild, they’re going to want as much as they can get in return for Lindor’s services. While last offseason saw Cincinnati’s farm system eroded with the trades of Shed Long, Jeter Downs, and Josiah Gray, there are still some talented players prospects in the Reds system.

Jonathan India, ranked No. 3 in the Reds system and No. 93 overall by MLB Pipeline, is blocked at the big league level by Eugenio Suárez. We saw Cincinnati, just last season, resort to moving Nick Senzel (historically a third baseman) to the outfield. India was an advanced hitter when he was drafted in 2018 and will likely be ready for The Show in 2021.

Add in two top pitching prospects in Tony Santillan and last year’s No. 7 overall pick Nick Lodolo, and the Reds may be able to close the deal. Lodolo, at just 21-years old, is expected to rocket through the minor league system and could be part of a major league rotation in 2021. Santillan is likely to get his shot at the Triple-A level this coming season after some struggles in 2019.

A deal like this would severely cripple the Reds farm system, but that’s a small price to pay if lands Cincinnati the best shortstop in the game today. An outfielder like Andy Suglio or Stuart Fairchild may be necessary to seal the deal, but neither look to be part of the Reds long-term plans moving forward.

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.