GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- For the first time since shortstop Francisco Lindor came within a 400-foot homer of free agency, the possibility of the Indians signing him to a multiyear deal has a pulse.

There’s a big monetary hurdle to clear, and no one should check their skepticism at the door, but Chris Antonetti, Indians president of baseball operations, talked about Lindor’s long-term future in Cleveland on Monday whith a whisper of optimism. The same goes for Lindor, who can be a free agent after the 2021 season.

Lindor and Antonetti admitted that negotiations are active with a deadline, at least regarding this season, set sometime in March. The Indians open the regular season on March 26 against the Tigers at Progressive Field.

Antonetti, who rarely reveals the state of player negotiations, said he made an exception with Lindor because “he deserves it.”

“We’d love for Francisco to be here long term,” said Antonetti, following the first day of full-squad workouts. "I think Francisco shares that desire. Our ownership has made meaningful efforts to try do that and so has Francisco. He and his representative, David Meter, continue to express to us publicly and privately that he’d like to stay here. I think that’s been consistent with what he’s told all of you.

“Now how do we make it happen is where it gets difficult. It’s a really hard situation – it’s not because of a lack of desire on our part or Francisco’s part – but more when you look at the economics of baseball and the realities of building championship teams in a small market. . . it gets really difficult.”

The massive contracts that Mike Trout, Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon have signed in the last two years have seemingly put Lindor beyond the Tribe’s reach. Owner Paul Dolan has cut more than $44 million in payroll over the last two seasons.

How do the two sides make it work?

Trout signed a 12-year $430 million deal with the Angels. Bryce Harper signed a 13-year $330 million deal with the Phillies. Rendon just signed a seven-year $240 million deal with the Angels. Could Lindor settle for a shorter deal?

“I’ll stay away from specifics because I don’t think it’s constructive,” said Antonetti. “But what I will share is that we’re open to a variety of different structures. I think Francisco is as well. We want to try and be creative to find overlap if at all possible. I don’t know if that can happen, but it won’t be for a lack of desire or effort.”

Lindor, 26, said the deadline for negotiations for this season is “early March.”

“I have shown how much I want to be here,” said Lindor "So has the team. It’s a matter of things making sense.

"It’s like (having) a little mixed feelings. You want to talk because you want to be here. But how long do you really want to talk? Because then you get in the way of working with my teammates. Is it a distraction? That’s not right. That’s not fair for me, my team or the front office. To your point, (the deadline is) probably somewhere early March.

"If it happens, it happens. If not, then not. We’ll see. Like I said, if it makes sense, it’s gonna happen. If it doesn’t make sense, it’s not going to happen.”

Lindor would not grade the intensity of the negotiations.

“We’ve talked,” he said. "But nothing has been concrete. Nothing has made sense yet. It’s early still.”

Antonetti did the same.

“My role is not to be more optimistic or pessimistic, but to put in the work and try to find ways to overlap an agreement,” he said. “If you get too emotional in these. . . when you consider things like this in either direction. . .it can be detrimental in working toward an agreement. We’ll remain steadfast in our desire and continue to work to make something happen.”

Lindor has avoided arbitration the last two seasons. The four-time All-Star signed a one-year deal for $10.55 million in 2019 and another one year deal worth $17.5 million for 2020.

When talking contracts of this size, the matter of proportion must be discussed. What good does it do for the Indians to give Lindor the contract he wants if they can’t put together a team that will challenge for the postseason?

“Is there that right value in which we can extend Francisco and still build a championship team around him?” said Antonetti. "That’s what we’re really seeking to do. That’s ultimately what Francisco would want, too. He doesn’t want to sign long term in Cleveland and have that compromise our ability to build a championship team.

If a deal can’t be reached both sides will be back to normal, which is to say Lindor can be traded at any moment or the Indians can keep him for two years and then watch him walk away through free agency. Stay tuned.

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