Insider Weighs in on Francisco Lindor's Trade Value

Aside from the fact that, as buyers, Duquette's sources here would have a vested interest in downplaying his value at this point, there are a few reasons why only a few teams would be in on adding Lindor.

Can they move the contract?

The first reason, which Duquette points out in the clip, is his bulky contract. On top of having a full no-trade clause, Lindor is owed $32 million for each of the next five seasons. At age 32, one team went as far as to say the deal is "immovable."

If the Mets are willing to eat some of this money, it could help them to net the kind of prospect return that makes it easier to stomach such a franchise-altering move. On the others side of this argument is the teams that may be willing to take on the full contract to avoid shelling out any top ranked prospects.

Back in early June, it was reported that the Boston Red Sox were "desperately" canvassing the market for a right-handed bat and were even willing to take on a bad contract to land one. Now with the club in a much better spot and more likely to buy, this could emerge as a fit.

To who?

Another reason why Lindor's market could be limited is the number of teams that the Mets would be comfortable trading with.

When you take a closer look, there are very few teams that are both buyers in need of a shortstop and financially flexible enough to take on Lindor's contract. Among them could be the Red Sox, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, and Toronto Blue Jays.

Of these destinations, it feels highly unlikely that David Stearns wants to deal to the Yankees, Dodgers, and especially the Braves, which would narrow his options significantly. Without a true bidding war for the star infielder, it's hard to see the Mets getting maximum value in a return.

Why?

So, if Stearns can't generate a worthwhile return for a player that has been the face of the franchise for much of the last six seasons, what's the point? We know how owner Steve Cohen operates, so it would be rare to see a true salary dump for a player who can still do it at a high level.

But at the same time, trading Lindor may be the final piece of Stearns' harsh overhaul that saw him sever ties with fan-favorites and franchise legends alike. Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil, and Edwin Diaz all left via trade or free agency last winter.

Is Lindor the next to join this island of ejected Mets? Is the club finally handing the reigns over completely to the $765 million dollar man Soto? A future without Lindor may be a shocking one, but it's beginning to look like a real possibility.