The Chicago Cubs are now sellers after falling in the NL Central standings. At the trade deadline, the Cubs may deal away multiple core members, including Kris Bryant. Here are some potential trade destinations for former-MVP and World Series champion Kris Bryant.
The Mets are the number one suitor for Kris Bryant. They have the trade capital to make the trade and can continue to pay Bryant if he wants to stay past his current contract. Bryant also deserves to be on a big stage and there is arguably no bigger stage than New York City.
Queens needs a big bat in their lineup and Bryant is just that. He has been raking this year, not quite returning to his MVP form, but still is outperforming anyone who is currently on the Mets. Lindor is out indefinitely, but imagine a lineup with his return to form and Bryant back-to-back. That alone is enough to propel them to the playoffs.
The biggest hold up is the haul Bryant necessitates in return. The Mets will need to give up a lot of pieces to make this trade happen. If the Cubs are going to give up Bryant, a player that they can pay a massive amount to keep, they need franchise-altering players in return. New York could pay for what could amount to just being a rental, which is something to consider. But the Mets are strong contenders either way.
San Francisco is a late contender to the Kris Bryant sweepstakes. The two teams have reportedly discussed trade offers ahead of Friday’s deadline.
Catcher Joey Bart seems to be the most coveted trade piece on the Giants, but the team is reluctant to give him up. The trade negotiations are likely contentious due to Bryant’s past and present being so impressive. In short, San Francisco is really going to have to weigh giving up a potentially huge piece of their future to another NL team for a proven superstar.
Bryant could easily propel the team to a deep playoff run, as the Giants have massively overperformed this season. But mortgaging the future in a division with the Dodgers and Padres could be a big mistake if played incorrectly.
If another NL West team is interested, money could be laid on the Dodgers also looking to acquire that player. If for no other reason than to get him away from the other squad.
The Dodgers are stacked. Absolutely loaded. And they need a pitcher more than another bat after Trevor Bauer’s absence from the team. But the Dodgers’ plan as of late has been grabbing big name after big name to get back to the World Series, much like the Yankees.
Los Angeles’ payroll and ability to take on such big contracts one after the other is baffling to most MLB fans, but they continue to find a way. The prospects and/or players that would come back to the Cubs are up in the air, as is the level of the Dodgers’ interest. But stranger things have happened.
Featured Image courtesy of Michael Zagaris/Getty Images
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