With their desire to acquire an elite player and after missing out on top free agents Gerrit Cole, Anthony Rendon and Stephen Strasburg, much of the speculation involving the Los Angeles Dodgers is now centered around potential trades.
Specifically with their reported interest in acquiring Cleveland Indians All-Star Francisco Lindor. Despite the Indians recently assuring Lindor would be on their roster at the start of next season, they and the Dodgers again are engaged in trade talks.
One iteration of scenarios the two clubs have reportedly discussed involved not only Lindor but Mike Clevinger as well. Such a deal presumably would require to send a substantial package to Cleveland.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports, the Dodgers are going to submit an offer that features top prospects Gavin Lux and Dustin May:
They want Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor, and they want him badly. They are expected to submit a powerful package of prospects to Cleveland, including Dustin May and Gavin Lux for Lindor.
It should be noted every indication to this point has been the Dodgers are unwilling to part with Lux under any scenario. They might not feel as strongly for May, but he was held out of trade talks at the deadline this past season.
For as much as the Dodgers don’t appear keen on parting with Lux or May, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has also stressed the club doesn’t operate within concrete guidelines that don’t allow for flexibility.
Both Lux and May made their MLB debut in 2019, and upon arriving at Dodger Stadium admitted to feeling some distraction and level of concern with being involved in trade rumors.
Up until Thursday, Corey Kluber was a prime candidate to be packaged with Lindor in a trade. The right-hander has an $18 million club option on his contract for the 2021 season; Lindor remains under control for two more years.
Clevinger is a first-year arbitration-eligible player and his talent and being several years from free agency conceivably would increase the Indians’ asking price.
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