Kris Bryant will be a free agent after the 2021 season, so it makes sense for the Chicago Cubs to pursue a trade now. The 29-year-old former MVP and World Series champion will have a big market with teams ready to compete for a title.
To maximize trade value and to give him a chance to earn the biggest paycheck possible, this deal needs to be done before the new season begins. With that in mind, here are three potential landing spots for Cubs’ third baseman Kris Bryant.
Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox had a terrible 2020 season. After winning the 2018 World Series, the Red Sox plummeted to a record of 24-36, which placed them last in their own division. They earned the fourth worst record in the entire MLB.
Their bad record was partly due to the shortened season, but can also be contributed to losing superstar Mookie Betts in free agency. If the team is looking for a reboot with a new potential key piece, they need look no further than Kris Bryant.
As the Cubs proved, Bryant is a player that can either be built around or plugged in to a good lineup. Depending on what Boston gives up for him in a trade, they could take either root with their new centerpiece.
This one is a no-brainer potential landing spot. A high profile team that can afford him, a chance to win for Bryant and probable large haul for Chicago all equate to a trade that works for everyone.
Atlanta Braves
Atlanta was only a game away from the World Series in 2020. The Braves are a team on the rise and are just a piece or two away from becoming a perennial threat to win the title.
Bryant is mainly a third baseman, but can play in the corner outfield spots without missing a beat. His upside is immeasurable, regardless of his recent down seasons and he could be plugged into this lineup seamlessly. All they would have to sacrifice is Marcel Ozuna, who does not have quite the staying power that a former MVP would.
The Braves are already an increasingly scary team. If they can grab Kris Bryant without giving up the entire farm system, MLB fans should get ready to see them in contention for the World Series for the foreseeable future.
Washington Nationals
The strongest reason the Nationals may want to try to trade for Bryant might be the fact that skipper Dave Martinez knows how to get the most out of him. Martinez was the bench coach for the Cubs when they won the World Series in 2016, which also happened to be the year Bryant won the MVP.
Given the two already have a relationship and the Nats are ready to compete for another title after winning the 2019 World Series, this is a match made in heaven. It is known that the Cubs and the Nationals have engaged in trade talks in the past few seasons, they may want to enter negotiations again this offseason.
Arguing fit in the lineup is irrelevant for a player like Bryant, so Washington should not hesitate to get him to make another run.
Featured Image courtesy of Michael Zagaris/Getty Images
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