Indians fans can't panic over the rumors of moving Lindor

Many Indians fans are freaking out today after an article popped up on ESPN which in so many words said that a number of baseball executives see the Tribe moving superstar shortstop Francisco Lindor on or before 2020’s MLB trade deadline.

It’s a hot and heavy rumor that has been written about a number of times before, but it does make sense that the Indians don’t want to get caught in a dilemma where they get nothing for Lindor’s services as he hits the free agent market and goes to the highest bidder – which won’t be the Indians.

Fans are going to slam the Indians if they do move the popular Lindor over the winter, feeling that they are simply giving up and that they are ways away from being a playoff or even World Series contender.

If that’s the case, it would be best to stop and recall the team that won the World Series a few weeks back.

That would be the Washington Nationals, a team that lost Bryce Harper in the 2019 offseason, and not only did they have a hole in their lineup, but they got nothing for him.

Many wrote off the Nationals, yet losing Harper didn’t stop them from taking down the favored Houston Astros to win their first title.

While it’s impossible to predict that the Indians will be hoisting a World Series title next October if they lose Lindor, fans also have to remember that in moving Lindor, the team is going to get a number of top assets that team President Chris Antonetti and GM Mike Chernoff could use to keep the team competitive.

Last year the Indians front office stayed true to form in always making sure they come out on top when it comes to deals, as they won the trade deadline with a deal that moved pitcher Trevor Bauer to the Cincinnati Reds.

The three-way deal netted them a pair of outfielders in Yasiel Puig and Franmil Reyes, as well as pitching prospect Logan Allen.

It was a trade that showed that when it comes to making deals, the Indians rarely lose, and fans have to give Antonetti and Chernoff their due in that department.

The club isn’t going to simply give away their star player for unknowns, which is why this is not the time to push the panic button before the offseason really kicks into high gear.

The team has plenty of work to do, and while trading (or at least listening to offers) for Lindor is on the list, but they won’t do it without getting the proper pieces in return that will set them up for the future.

Yes losing Lindor is going to hurt. It’s never easy to lose a star player in the prime of his career, but have some trust in this front office – they’ve made lemonade out of lemons in the past – now is their chance to do it yet again.