GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Francisco Lindor wants to make something clear: Nothing has changed. Not for him, anyway. He still wants to be here. He still wants to sign a long-term extension to remain in Cleveland.



And yet, this feels significant. This is significant. The Indians and Lindor have suspended contract talks, he told The Athletic. In Lindor’s exact words, they’ve “set aside” negotiations to focus on the upcoming season. The two sides discussed an extension this spring, but Lindor never felt like they were close to a deal. So he informed the Indians last week, through his agent, that it’s time to stop talking and get back to playing.



“We had good conversations. We couldn’t come up with an agreement,” Lindor told The Athletic. “So we put that aside and let’s focus on winning.”



Lindor is under the Indians’ control for two more years. This day was inevitable, but the timing now is...