Cleveland Indians and All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor were set on getting a long-term deal done this offseason, but it seems that won’t be the case. According to Lindor, the two sides have opted to pause the contract negotiations for now and won’t be resuming them anytime soon.
Lindor inked a one-year, $17.5 million deal with Cleveland earlier this year, avoiding arbitration and keeping the 26-year-old with the franchise at least through 2021. Indians wanted to use the momentum and work out a longer contract with the player in recent weeks, but their offer just wasn’t good enough.
“We had good conversations,” Lindor told The Athletic in a story published on Monday. “We couldn’t come up with an agreement. So we put that aside and let’s focus on winning.”
While it remains unclear which number would make Lindor comfortable inking an extension with Indians, there is an understanding that it would take north of nine-year, $215 million that Christian Yelich recently got from Milwaukee Brewers.
“My agent knows my value. I know my value. But that’s something that’s a little more private,” he added. “But I do know what’s fair for both sides. I’m very aware. I’ve studied it.”
Francisco Lindor has been one of Cleveland Indians’ key players since he made his MLB debut in 2015. Since 2016, Lindor has four consecutive All-Star appearances while earning two Silver Sluggers and two Golden Glove awards.
Lindor is coming off another impressive season in 2019 when he batted .284 while adding 32 home runs, 74 RBIs, and 22 steals.
