The Cleveland Guardians travel to Queens to play the New York Mets this weekend and the Lindor trade is the biggest talking point of the series.

Cleveland, knowing they could not afford to keep the services of Francisco Lindor traded him to New York after the 2020 season and the deal sent Lindor and pitcher Carlos Carrasco to the Mets for infielders Andrés Giménez, Amed Rosario, and prospects Isaiah Greene, and Josh Wolf.

In 2021 Lindor struggled batting only .230 while also making a thumbs down gesture at the New York fans during a game that did not go over well. Carrasco did not fair much better due to injuries derailing most of his season. He pitched in only 53.2 innings in 12 starts.

2022 was a much better year for Lindor who returned to form. He batted .270 with 26 homers and 107 RBI. He provided the consistent switch-hitting bat that the Mets desperately needed. Meanwhile, Carlos Carrasco bounced back as well pitching in 152 innings over 29 starts with a 3.97 ERA.

The Guardians side of the trade has had some positive results as well. Both Amed Rosario and Andrés Giménez helped Cleveland win the AL Central Division in 2022. The Guardians even paid out a big contract (well big for them) to Giménez, 7 years, $107 million.

The key piece has been Andrés Giménez for sure. In 2021 he only batted .218 and many baseball people wondered if he could ever develop as a hitter needed to play middle infield.

2022 proved to be the coming out party for Andrés Giménez. The second baseman made the All-Star team while batting .297 for the season. He also smacked 17 HR and 69 RBI.

Amed Rosario was the other major leaguer sent to Cleveland in the trade. He has been consistent in his first two years batting .282 and .283. Rosario is a competent player but will most likely never be a star.

The two prospects in Greene and Wolf are still in the minors and are not on the radar of the Guardians major league plans anytime soon.

So who won the trade? At this point it’s fair to say both teams because they seem to be getting the value they wanted.

*Featured phot courtesy of New York Times*