Cleveland Indians SS Francisco Lindor Already A $100 Million Talent

Cleveland Indians superstar shortstop Francisco Lindor is already a $100 million talent, according to ESPN Insider and former MLB GM Jim Bowden.

Of course the Indians would love to extend the contract of budding superstar Francisco Lindor. That’s why when Brody Chernoff, the precocious son of Tribe GM Mike Chernoff, “spilled the beans” that his dad was trying to get Lindor to sign an extension was more cute, than breaking news.

The Indians want to lock up the best all-around player who some think could join the 30-30 club at the age of 23?

Duuuuhhh.

But Lindor isn’t taking the bait the Indians have used to lock up a lot of their younger players. With a New Balance endorsement deal in his back pocket, Lindor doesn’t need to sign a team friendly contract to assure himself financial security.

And after a column ESPN Insider and former MLB general manager Jim Bowden wrote, it’s easy to see why.

According to Bowden, if Lindor were to sign an extension today, he’d be deserving of a seven-year, $116 million contract.

"Lindor might join the 30-homer/30-steals club this season, and most think he’s the best all-around shortstop in the game. He has above-average range to all sides and a strong arm, and he can hit with power. He has the leadership qualities you look for and plays with energy and enthusiasm. The Indians were spoiled over the years by getting many of their top players to sign long-term deals for below-market value. Lindor will not be one of them. If the Indians want to extend him, they’ll have to pay his worth, because a “bad” player contract here would affect everyone else on the players’ side — like Carlos Correa and Corey Seager — and there is no way the union is going to let that happen. Although the clubs will point to the Yelich, Simmons and Starling Marte contracts, each of these shortstops will far surpass them. What would it take for Lindor to sign an extension now? Ballpark: seven years, $116 million."

A week before Bowden’s column, Factory of Sadness writer Joe Russo did his best to forecast what Lindor was worth today, and came up with comparable numbers.

"If we have to speculate, Lindor’s deal should settle between $15-$16 million per season over that seven year span, making it a likely seven year, $112 million deal to keep Lindor’s best season in a Tribe uniform. It also wouldn’t surprise anyone if that average value pushed closer to $17 million"

Russo used to the recent contracts signed by Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford (6-years, $75 million), and Braves’ first baseman Freddie Freeman (eight years, $135 million) to come to his conclusion.

OK, we don’t know how much the Indians have already offered Lindor. If he’s already turning down $100 million deals, we may need to take a deep breath. Clearly, he doesn’t feel the pressure to sign.

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But don’t let this contract talk scare you into thinking Lindor will be playing elsewhere anytime soon. In reality, the Indians are competing against themselves to ensure they are able to buy out Lindor’s first or second seasons of free agency.

And oh by the way–he’s not eligible to become a free agent until after the 2021 season. He’s not even arbitration eligible until 2019.

The Indians have been known to be fiscally conservative ever since the Dolan family bought the team from Dick Jacobs back in the late 1990s.

But it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Indians make a good on a huge extension for Lindor. The window to win is open, and the team is drawing better at the gate. The franchise has already sold 1.3 million tickets. They sold 1.6 million tickets all of last season. The front office has been afforded the flexibility to spend, evidenced by the three-year, $60 million contract given to Edwin Encarnacion.

Additionally, the rumors that surfaced about the Tribe’s run at Jose Bautista, indicates the team still as money to play with.

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Lindor is a fan-favorite superstar who’s barely scratched the surface of how good he can be. The Indians know this, and it wouldn’t be big news to me if the Indians extend him this offseason for more than what Bowden and Russo are currently estimating.

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