3 blockbuster Mariners trade ideas for Francisco Lindor

Mariners and Indians swap shortstops, plus Cleveland gets outfield help

The Indians are in a spot where they need offensive help now to partner with their terrific starting rotation and bullpen, and they should not be looking to rebuild as they went 35-25 last season and cant waste one of the best rotations in baseball. Insert a trade that gives the Mariners a generational talent, and the Indians a Lindor replacement plus addresses their biggest need.

The Indians outfield might have been the worst position group of any team in the playoffs. They did not have a single player with an OPS over .663, not including Franmil Reyes who spent the majority of the year as the teams full-time DH.

Acquiring Haniger, a player that will provide All-Star level offensive help if he comes back healthy and can perform as he did in 2017 and 2018, along with the Mariners #9 prospect Jake Fraley, who is MLB ready with hitting and power grades of 50, who greatly help the Indians struggling outfield.

It would obviously be hard for the Mariners to part with JP Crawford as he had the best year of his career at age 25, with his best OPS+ (92), highest WAR (1.4 in just 53 games), and was a Gold Glove Award finalist. But, JP is nowhere close to the offensive talent that Lindor is and he will be eligible for free agency in just 3 years.

This trade makes sense for both sides as the Indians get the help they need now, and the Mariners give up 3 players who might not be in their future plans. This would be a trade that the Indians would take if they get desperate and can live with not getting a potential generational talent, and instead get three players who are/could become fringe All-Stars in positions they need.