Francisco Lindor trade: 5 things to come next for Cleveland Indians

3. The lowest payroll in baseball

The Indians now own the lowest projected payroll baseball, at around $40 million. The Pirates are second, at $47 million.

Looking back, here’s a list of the players the Indians have parted ways with; via trade: Lindor, Carrasco, Mike Clevinger, Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, Edwin Encarnacion and Yan Gomes. Via free agency, Hernandez, Brad Hand, Carlos Santana (was was also traded at one point), Jason Kpnis and Michel Brantley.

Despite the fiscal purge, the Indians are still expected to keep things interesting in 2021 behind a pitching staff that boasts the reigning Cy Young Award winner, Shane Bieber, in addition to rotation mates Zach Plesac, Triston McKenzie and Aaron Civale.

Unfortunately, the Indians haven’t done much terms of their lineup and are worse off without LIndor–even though he didn’t put together his best season in 2020.

It’s going to be hard to score runs with Jose Ramirez and Franmil Reyes as the only consistent offensive threats.