Back when MLB postponed opening day by just a couple weeks, I noted how such a move would impact the Cleveland Indians’ plans for Francisco Lindor.
With only a small delay on the books, the thinking was this would make it all the more important for the Indians to start 2020 strong. Otherwise discussions about moving their star shortstop — who’s entering his second-to-last year of team control — would have to occur earlier than planned.
A lot has happened since then, enough to make that line of thinking feel like it occurred years ago.
MLB has been hard at work developing a way for baseball to be played this summer. Reports have the league considering everything from hosting all teams in Arizona to realigning the divisions based on where clubs’ respective spring training facilities are located.
Either way, if baseball is going to be played in 2020, the schedule will likely be abbreviated.
Which means the Indians will have even less time to decide whether they’ll pursue a midseason trade of Lindor. In fact, you could argue a shortened season may force them to determine their plan for him before the year even starts.
Casey Drottar is an Cleveland Indians writer for Sports Illustrated. Subscribe to his podcast, or follow him on Twitter and Facebook