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sports Diabierna 8 Januari 2021

Mega deal: Indians trade star Lindor, Carrasco to Mets

(AP) — Francisco Lindor money from a major-market
is moving to a new city team when he becomes a free
and team that is willing to agent.
meet his salary demands. He’s only signed for another
season, so the Mets will have
The four-time Cleveland to quickly get to work on
All-Star shortstop — and one locking up Lindor long-term.
of baseball’s best all-around The Indians made it known
players — was traded Thurs- that Lindor was available for
day by the Indians along with the right price. And while it’s
pitcher Carlos Carrasco to never easy to trade a genera-
the New York Mets, who tional talent with perhaps his
have a new owner willing to best years still ahead of him,
spend at baseball’s highest Cleveland’s financial situa-
levels. tion was never going to make
The cash-strapped Indians it possible to keep him.
sent Lindor and Carrasco to Cohen is hoping to turn
the Mets for infielders An- around a franchise that has
dres Gimenez and Amed Ro- not won a World Series since
sario, right-hander Josh Wolf 1986.
and outfielder Isaiah Greene Cohen hired general manag-
— a move Cleveland hopes er Brodie Van Wagenen and
will keep it competitive and brought back former GM
capable of ending baseball’s Sandy Alderson as team pres-
longest World Series title ident and hired Jared Porter
drought. from Arizona as GM under
Dealing Lindor, who is eli- Alderson.
gible for free agency after the Lindor had $6,481,481 in
2021 season, was inevitable prorated pay from a $17.5
for the mid-market Indians, million salary last year, and
who are unable to compete is he eligible free agency after
financially with MLB’s big the 2021 season.
spenders and dropped rough- Carrasco is signed at $12 mil-
ly $30 million in dealing two lion in each of the next two
prominent players and fan fa- seasons, part of a deal that in-
vorites. cludes a $14 million million
“These are people we care team option for 2023 with a
about, not just players, and $3 million buyout. The op-
guys that loved the organiza- tion would become guaran-
tion and have great memories teed if he pitches in 170 in-
here,” said Indians President nings in 2022 and is found to
of Baseball Operations Chris be healthy for the 2023 sea-
Antonetti, who said he was couldn’t do. popular athletes. But he’s co’s caliber. son.
in tears when he spoke with The 27-year-old Lindor can gone now, leaving the Indians He can be replaced. Find- Since Cohen’s takeover, New
Lindor and Carrasco. “Trades affect the game with his bat, without their best player and ing someone to fill Lindor’s York has kept pitcher Marcus
like this are really tough. But glove and legs. A two-time the team’s fans grumbling shoes will be much tougher. Stroman for an $18.9 million
it’s the right thing to do.” Gold Glove winner, he’s a ca- about owner Paul Dolan. Once the Indians’ pandemic- qualifying offer, signed right-
For the Mets, landing Lindor reer .285 hitter and averaged Carrasco is one of the game’s shortened 2020 season ended hander Trevor May to a $15.5
is a home run and another 29 homers, 86 RBIs and 21 best comeback stories, over- with a loss to the New York million, two-year contract
major move by hedge fund steals in his six major league coming leukemia to become Yankees in the wild-card and catcher James McCann,
owner Steven Cohen, who seasons — all with the Indi- one of the AL’s steadiest start- round, it became a matter to a $40.6 million, four-year
bought the team on Nov. 6 ans, who drafted him in 2011 ers. The 33-year-old has a 88- of when, and not if, Lindor deal. New York also signed
from the Wilpon and Katz and developed him. 73 career record with a 3.73 would be traded. injured right-hander Noah
families and has pledged to ERA. Cleveland had run out of Syndergaard to a $9.7 mil-
increase spending. He has also been the face of With an abundance of young options. Lindor has turned lion, one-year deal.
One of his next big-ticket the Indians’ franchise, with pitchers, including Cy Young down numerous long-term Rosario is eligible for arbitra-
items figures to be signing an infectious smile and joy Award winner Shane Bieber, contract offers from the In- tion for the first time after
Lindor to a long-term con- for playing that has made the Indians were in position dians, betting on himself and earning $225,474 prorated
tract, something the Indians him one of Cleveland’s most to move a player of Carras- knowing he could get more from a $608,780 salary.

Former pitching great Tommy John hospitalized with COVID-19

( AP ) - Tommy John has ently on oxygen. He said the John pitched for six teams
been battling COVID-19 biggest side effect at the mo- over a 26-year career from
for at least three weeks. ment is he has no strength in 1963-89. He is widely known
his legs. As far as some of the for undergoing the ground-
The 77-year-old former other symptoms associated breaking ulnar collateral liga-
pitching great remains hos- with COVID-19, such as loss ment reconstruction surgery
pitalized near his home in of taste or smell, John said he on his left elbow in 1974 that
Indio, California. He said he didn’t experience those. bears his name.
started to feel ill following a
trip to Nashville before he “I feel good. The only thing He went on to win 20 games
was hospitalized on Dec. 13. right now is trying to arrange three times, once with the
John said he has had a bout for someone to do physical Los Angeles Dodgers in 1977
of pneumonia and did re- therapy from my home,” he and twice with the New York
ceive oxygen, but is not pres- said. Yankees (1979-80).