Lindor suspends contract talks with Indians, wants to 'focus on winning'
Francisco Lindor and the Cleveland Indians have suspended contract talks in order to focus on the 2020 season, the All-Star shortstop told Jason Lloyd of The Athletic on Monday.
Lindor moved to put the discussions on the back burner over the past week after talks reached a standstill.
"We had good conversations. We couldn't come up with an agreement," Lindor said. "So we put that aside and let's focus on winning."
Despite speculation he'll eventually be traded ahead of reaching free agency - the Indians only control Lindor for two more seasons - the sides have engaged in some contract talks this winter.
Last month, Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti acknowledged the team made "meaningful efforts" toward a long-term deal. Lindor himself has already stated he wants to stay in Cleveland, though not at any sort of "hometown discount."
Indeed, it seems the sides were quite far apart at the bargaining table. The 26-year-old shortstop told Lloyd that Cleveland's recent offer did not reach $300 million. While he didn't give specifics, Lindor did confirm that Christian Yelich's recent nine-year, $215-million extension with the Milwaukee Brewers would not cut it in his case.
"My agent knows my value, I know my value. But that's something that's a little more private," Lindor said. "But I do know what's fair for both sides. I'm very aware. I've studied it."
Lindor was drafted eighth overall by the Indians in 2011 and has since morphed into both a perennial MVP candidate and the face of the franchise. Last year, he slashed .284/.335/.518 with 23 homers, 40 doubles, 101 runs, and 22 stolen bases while also winning his second Gold Glove award.
He and the team avoided arbitration after agreeing to a reported one-year, $17.5-million contract in January, the second-highest salary ever given to a second-year arbitration player.
The Indians' 40-man roster payroll of $104,733,333 currently ranks 25th in baseball, according to Cot's Contracts.