Francisco Lindor's name just entered the Blue Jays conversation, and it's not for the reason most fans expected out of the Mets.
ESPN's Jeff Passan connected Lindor to Toronto, pointing to general manager Ross Atkins' history with the shortstop dating back to 2011.
Atkins was Cleveland's vice president of player development that year and played a key role in the decision to draft Lindor.
"This front office has a history with him and this lineup needs to be better," Jeff Blair wrote, sharing Passan's reporting.
Passan didn't hold back describing what Lindor brings when healthy.
"The production has been consistently awesome," Passan said. "When Francisco Lindor is right, he's an annual 6 WAR player. He is a great defensive shortstop who hits about 30% more than league average."
That kind of production would tower over Andres Gimenez's own .228 average this season at the position.
Why this move would reshuffle Toronto's entire infield
For Lindor to actually fit, Toronto would likely need to move George Springer first, given his expiring contract and a down year at .224 with 10 home runs at age 36.
That would let Gimenez shift to second base, Ernie Clement move to third, and Kazuma Okamoto slide into designated hitter duty, spelling Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first base along the way.
That configuration would give Toronto one of the strongest defensive infields in baseball, pairing Lindor's glove with Clement's own .298 average this season.
But the hurdles here are real. Lindor turns 33 in November and still has six years left on his 10-year, $341 million deal, meaning Toronto would need to absorb a massive contract and part with a top prospect, reportedly Arjun Nimmala.
Lindor is also having the worst season of his 12-year career, slashing .220/.304/.390 with just six home runs across only 43 of the Mets' 100 games.
It's a bit like buying a luxury car with engine trouble, betting the brand's track record eventually wins out over the current diagnosis.
Would Atkins really bet on Lindor rediscovering his peak form away from New York, or does trading a near-MLB-ready prospect for a declining superstar carry too much risk for a team already rebuilding its identity?
Should the Blue Jays trade for Francisco Lindor despite his down season and contract?
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