Theo on Kris Bryant Rumors – FALSE
This time of year offers a ton of speculation, and today we have gotten a ton of the dumb speculation. Buster Onley of ESPN, wrote that the Chicago Cubs are open to the idea of trading superstar third baseman, Kris Bryant. This doesn’t sound like something a team in a championship window would do with a player that has the pedigree and ability as Bryant. But there it was, on display for all ESPN readers to see.
It appeared that Buster was working off of the statement that Cubs president of baseball operations, Theo Epstein said during a recent conversation at the GM Meetings in San Diego, Ca. There he mentioned that the club operates without the premise of “untouchables.” Then Onley suggests that he had some sources to validate that the Cubs have made it known to other teams that they are willing to listen to trades involving Bryant.
Since, I covered the topic in a potentially not fantastic way as I more so told everyone that it’s stupid to consider, unless the shoulder is worse than they all let on. I still stand behind that, but will certainly add a couple of higher points.
I suggested that when the Cubs drafted Bryant, that was the moment I knew the Cubs were going to either win, or compete for a World Series. He is that good, and there hasn’t been a single moment in his career which would make me rethink that statement. I have seen several “fans” suggest that the Cubs should trade him because the team is unlikely to re-sign him once he is eligible for free agency. This is an understandable statement, and makes complete sense – if it was the offseason of 2021. The Cubs are in a championship window right now, and you do not trade away a cornerstone athlete, that you have control over for multiple years, because there is a chance you could lose him in three years. But even so, there’s this Chicago media dude suggesting the same…
Just a better understanding regarding Bryant: He’s available because the Cubs believe he eventually won’t re-sign with them. Told there is an effort to deal him. Doesn’t mean it will happen.@WBBMNewsradio
— George Ofman (@georgeofman) November 9, 2018
You don’t trade a guy like this, you supplement his talent with others around him, regardless of contracts and what could happen if something doesn’t work out. He is the biggest reason the Cubs can compete in 2019, 2020, and 2021 and if they traded him – the Cubs do not win a championship within those three seasons.
The idea just doesn’t seem correct, and I imagine that is why Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reached out to Theo. I am certain Theo wanted to clear this mess that Onley started up as well. This is what Theo had to say on the matter:
“I answered a general question about whether we have untouchables,” the Cubs president said. “Like most every organization, we will listen to anything, but that’s just an operating philosophy.
“We are lucky to have some impact players and we are looking to add to them, not subtract.”
A lot of teams operate with the idea that no one is untouchable. The best player in baseball, Mike Trout, is thought to be on the block year in, and year out. While these guys could be acquired, it will take a major haul to do so. A haul so big that a team is more than likely better off keeping the players they would trade as they would need to gut their team.
So while the Cubs would pick up the phone for a potential Bryant deal, or Anthony Rizzo, or any of the other guys, it is very unlikely that anyone would have the ability to pull off a deal.
So be rest assured Cubs fans, Kris Bryant will be a Cub in 2019. He will be a Cub in 2020, he will be a Cub in 2021. Beyond that is anyone’s guess.
