Let's open this conversation by stating the obvious: things aren't going well for the NL Central's Chicago Cubs and Kris Bryant.
After the Cubs spent more than a month at the top of the division, the 2016 World Series champions wrecked their floor routine with tumble after tumble — going from 1.5 games up on Milwaukee, St. Louis, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh on June 3, to 9 1/2 games back of the division crown 35 days later.
It was an expeditious retreat brought along by a 2-12 finish in the 14 games leading up to the 2021 All-Star Game, including an 11-game losing streak to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Brewers, Reds and Philadelphia Phillies. Five of the defeats came in one-run affairs, and with an aging roster and some bloated contracts, selling mode has begun.
One would think Kris Bryant's name would be absent from the rumor mill's constant grinding of trade speculation. The homegrown talent is having a superb 2021 campaign with the Cubs despite not seeing a contract extension in the offseason, and the 2015 NL Rookie of the Year and 2016 MLB MVP did everything to erase Chicago's miserable championship history.
But it's not.
Longtime sportscaster Joe Buck, seeing what is happening with the Cubs, couldn't refrain from peppering Bryant with a tough angle at the ASG, which apparently (and, maybe rightfully) ruffled Bryant's father.
Bryant, of course, handled things with grace:
“Right now, I’ve still got the ‘Cubs’ on my chest and I’m proud of that,” Bryant said. “I'm proud to play for such an unbelievable city. Until they tell me I'm not, I'll go out there and give it all I’ve got.”
The Cubs showed at least part of their hand on Thursday night, when officials announced that OF Joc Pederson — a coveted offseason acquisition — was on the move for Atlanta Braves 1B Bryce Ball.
The #Cubs today acquired minor league 1B Bryce Ball from the Braves for OF Joc Pederson. pic.twitter.com/cy3W5dqWXn
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 16, 2021
Does this mean Bryant is still untouchable? Or is he among the stalwarts who could fetch a pretty price?
Drafted second overall in the 2013 MLB Amateur Draft out of the University of San Diego, Bryant makes $19.5 million this season for the Cubs before becoming an unrestricted free agent this winter. A versatile star who could play 1B, 3B or OF for any team in the majors, he's still not even 30 — meaning there's likely another decade of good baseball left in his tank.
According to spotrac.com's metrics, Bryant's arbitration and market value sits at roughly a 7-year/$203 million contract based on skill and the rest of the league's depth at third base. That's $29 million a season, or in layman's terms, a contract the Cubs can ill-afford (unless, you know, the front office suddenly makes him a priority).
If Bryant is even remotely on the market, Cubs brass must…MUST…get an equitable, hefty return before considering any trade of a true cornerstone. They must also attack some considerable deficiencies, most of which involve a lack of youth (average age: 29.2), intrepid hitting (team batting average: .227) and pitching depth in the starting rotation.
Because of Bryant's incredible versatility, one must assume that any team supposedly buying at the trade deadline — set for July 30 — could muster up an offer. That means anyone that's contending could make a play. The Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, Houston Astros, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Angels, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres are all currently positioned for division crowns and/or wild-card entries. And that's not even opening up Pandora's Box and allowing the Chicago White Sox — crosstown rivals of the Cubs — or a potentially interested NL Central team into the mix. Bryant in a Brewers uniform? A Reds uniform? No way. (Or…way?)
No. 3: Cubs send Kris Bryant to the Athletics for prospects A.J. Puk, Nick Allen and Daulton Jefferies
Should the small-market Athletics dole out three of their top four farm prospects — a lefty in Puk, a middle infielder in Allen and a righty in Jefferies — for what could be a half-season rental of Bryant from the Cubs? Especially when they already have a healthy and solid third baseman in Matt Chapman?
The short answer is “yes.” The long answer is a little more complicated.
Sporting News writer Ryan Fagan listed the A's as the second-best destination for Bryant, and for some strong reasons. If he's not at third base or in the OF rotation, he can DH in the American League. It gets him back to California, where he was murdering baseballs by his junior season at San Diego. And it provides Oakland with a much-needed swing to keep pace with the Astros, Mariners and Angels — who are all playing better than .500 baseball in the last 10 games.
Allen is currently hitting .308 through 49 games of AA ball with the Midland RockHounds, and would give the Cubs another middle-man if longtime gap-stopper Javier Baez is among those who get extricated from his spot at Wrigley Field. This could be a win-win move.
No. 2: Kris Bryant to the Phillies for a combination of Abel/Morales/Miller/Medina
Joe Girardi, who once played with the Cubs, is now the manager in Philadelphia. His Phillies are 44-44 and just 3.5 games out of the first-place Mets. And, sure, they just made a significant deal with the Atlanta Braves, who are trying to stay in contention despite the loss of megastar Ronald Acuna, Jr.
But the “City of Brotherly Love” needs some help right now. Its everyday third baseman, young star Alec Bohm, is on the 10-day IL. Centerfielder Odubel Herrera is also on the 10-day IL. Leftfielder Andrew McCutchen, though still sensational, is 34 years old. These are spots Bryant becomes a plug-and-play, without question.
Oh, and putting him alongside superstar outfielder Bryce Harper — one of his close friends — would be neat-o, burrito. The Cubs could make this happen.
Bryant has reportedly stated that Harper was very interested in joining the Cubs before signing with the Phillies on a 13-year/$330 million megadeal.
My, how the tables have turned for the Cubs. With Harper clearly locked in to the Phillies for the foreseeable future, trading for Bryant could yield a long-term deal in the offseason — keeping Philadelphia out of the rental business.
So what's the price? Four of the Phillies' top 10 prospects are pitchers (Mick Abel, Francisco Morales, Erik Miller, Adonis Medina), while a young farm shortstop could also fit well in the deal.
The tough part here is that Philadelphia already owns the fifth-largest payroll in MLB, meaning a move with the Cubs for Bryant only makes the burden heavier. But it would thwart the Mets, who reportedly are showing active, engaged interest.
Mets are among multiple teams with interest in Kris Bryant, whose versatility makes him a fit for many
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 16, 2021
No. 1: Kris Bryant to the White Sox for prospects/cash/RP Codi Heuer/free tickets to the World Series
In this Thanos-inspired trade — where chaos is quieted by swift balance and silence — the Chicago Cubs should inexplicably work a deal with their in-town, market rivals. After all, the White Sox are hurtling toward a World Series ring, and would like nothing more than a utility star who all but assures a death lineup for the 2021 MLB playoffs.
I mean, seriously. Imagine having to face Yoan Moncada, Tim Anderson, Jose Abreu, Yasmani Grandal, Yermin Mercedes and Bryant all in the same stretch — assuming none of those names would be part of the deal. Add in the possible healthy return of young phenoms Eloy Jiminez and Luis Robert, and, well, it's hard to stop laughing to keep typing these words on the Cubs and Sox.
It feels like pitching wouldn't matter, and that's a place the White Sox don't need help anyway.
The Astros (.269, first) and Red Sox (.259, third), two potential ALCS opponents, both hit better than the White Sox (.257, fourth) — and Bryant could be wielding a World-Series-winning bat.
Do you deal prospects for what would almost certainly be a rental, unless Bryant and his family really just want to stay in Chicago? Absolutely. Do you deal a young arm, too? Maybe RP Codi Heuer, or 25-year-old SP Dylan Cease? The White Sox couldn't do that, could they?
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