Mets Get Their Man, Acquire Francisco Lindor From Indians

Everyone knew it was coming, and it finally happened. The Cleveland Indians have traded Francisco Lindor. He's now headed to the New York Mets, as first reported by Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

The Indians also threw in starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco, which was a surprise. In return, the Mets are sending back shortstops, Amed Rosario and Andres Gimenez, pitcher Josh Wolf and outfielder Isaiah Greene, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

This is quite the transaction under new Mets owner Steve Cohen, who has made it clear he intends to turn the franchise into a regular contender.

Lindor, 27, is a four-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner. He has been with the Indians since 2015 and was a key member of their 2016 run to the World Series, where they lost to the Chicago Cubs in seven games.

His impending free agency put the Indians in a pickle because it meant that they could have lost him for nothing at the end of next season. Trading him at least gives them something in return.

Carrasco, 33, has been with the Indians for 11 seasons, compiling an 88-73 record and 3.77 ERA. He has been a Cleveland fan favorite since being diagnosed with leukemia in 2019. He later returned to the mound to win AL Comeback Player of the Year in both '19 and last season.

Rosario, 25, has been with the Mets since 2017. He batted .252 and scored 20 runs last season.

Gimenez, 22, made his MLB debut in July and batted .263 with three home runs and 12 RBI. Wolf was selected in the second round (No. 53 overall) of the 2019 draft. Greene was a second-rounder out of Corona, Calif., in 2020.

Written by
Sam Amico spent 15 years covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated, FOX Sports and NBA.com, along with a few other spots, and currently runs his own basketball website on the side, FortyEightMinutes.com.