5 players Cleveland Indians must get in Francisco Lindor, Blue Jays trade

1. Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is the name being consistently thrown around by members of the media as someone the Tribe would have to land in a trade for Francisco Lindor.

Gurriel makes sense  because he fills a position of great need and he’s under contract through the 2023 campaign, in which he’ll earn a total of $15 million.

As far as rumors go surrounding the Tribe’s interstate’s in Gurriel, Cleveland.com’s Terry Pluto wrote: 

"“I’ve been told the Indians would love to build a trade with Toronto with one of the players in return being Lourdes Gurriel.”"

Gurriel owns a .509 career slugging percentage and would be an instant starter in the outfield–probably in left field. Plus, he would slide into the middle of the lineup, which is greatly needed after the Indians made Carlos Santana a free agent.

Gurriel, 27, has played three seasons and he’s started to show some power, hitting 11 bombs in 57 games during the 2020 pandemic shortened campaign. In 2019, Gurriel hit 20 homers.

Additionally, he’s a lifetime .287 hitter. I know average doesn’t mean as it used to, but the Indians have guys are either going to launch homers or strikeout out. Having someone capable of putting the bat on the ball is fine. Think Michael Brantley, but with more power potential.