Mets and Blue Jays could be most likely destinations in a Puerto Rico shortstop transaction in Cleveland, Francisco Lindor, according to a report by MLB Network correspondent and The Athletic columnist Ken Rosenthal.
Rosenthal compares the Tribe’s situation to the one the Red Sox faced Mookie Betts last winter. The Mets, Blue Jays, Giants and Twins seem willing to invest, but Rosenthal notes that this time it will be difficult to find a partner like the Patirrojos with the Dodgers for the Betts business.
This winter’s free market has good short points – Marcus Semien, Didi Gregorius and Andrelton Simmons – and potential free agents for 2021-22 would include Lindor and compatriots Javier Báez and Carlos Correa, along with Corey Seager and Trevor Story. .
Of the four teams that Rosenthal, Mets and Blue Jays have shown, they look like the best destinations for Lindor, because at the moment her focus in the free agency is to consolidate other positions.
The Mets could have an advantage in completing a transaction, as it would have several issues that would persuade Lindor to sign a long-term extension. But Blue Jays would also be strong candidates – although they already have Bo Bichette as a starting point – if they fail to add the free agents they targeted.
MLB.com