Braves Likely OUT of Bryant Talks

The Chicago Cubs trading Kris Bryant rumors aren’t going to stop anytime soon, much to my personal chagrin. Ok, there are other Cubs fans out there that are hellbent against a Bryant trade as well (I call them the woke fans).

I am not saying that there isn’t a reason to discuss a Bryant trade, believe me, I understand why the Cubs would entertain it. He is two years from free agency – he won’t win his grievance – so this offseason is the most valuable Bryant will be as far as what the Cubs can get in return. There’s also a near-perfect storm as well. With Anthony Rendon and Josh Donaldson on the market, and Mike Moustakas already off the market, teams that were looking for a hot corner rehab will turn to the Cubs if they lose out on the free-agent options.

Right now, it seems that the third base players are the Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Nationals, Texas Rangers, and the Atlanta Braves. Of the four teams, the Braves appear to be the best fit for a trade partner for the Cubs. They have a very good, young, cost-controlled starting pitcher in Max Fried and five prospects in the top 100.

But, on the Mully and Haugh show on AM_670 the Score, baseball insider, Bruce Levine mentioned that the Braves might be more inclined to make a run to bring back Donaldson.

This would take them out of the Bryant sweepstakes. Bryant’s agent, Scott Boras mentioned something while he was holding court that I believe will eventually ring true… it makes sense to talk about trades like this, but they rarely happen.

Boras on the idea of a player like Kris Bryant getting moved: “It’s hard to think how you ever replace them, and so when you get into those (elite) levels, historically, it’s normally not something that’s done.”

— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) December 10, 2019

This also supports the idea that teams are reluctant to “pull a Theo” and deal their prospects in today’s baseball climate.

The current Cubs roster would be in much better shape without some moves they made over the past five seasons. I will argue till I’m blue in the face that each of those moves were necessary to win, you have to consider if some shortened the Cubs window. Teams have seen this, and it seemingly takes a special circumstance for someone to part with a top prospect. Then, if that prospect is a coveted pitcher, you can somehow pry them from their kung-fu grip you’re giving up more than originally expected.

I have stated for a while that, not only is trading Bryant the worst idea the Cubs could do, but it would be near impossible. The Cubs would never get fair value in return. A trade of him (and honestly any of the rumored Cubs stars) would take them out of 2020 contention.

We have been told, and repeated, for years that, “the Cubs can’t keep them all,” but there are better-slotted players to move than the best player on the roster. The Cubs can get more in return trading others than moving the player that really signaled the start of a championship window.