The long-running service-time grievance battle between Kris Bryant and the Cubs finally came to an end Wednesday. To no one’s surprise, Bryant lost the hearing – had he won, he’d have been eligible to reach free agency after 2020 instead of 2021 – though it took longer than expected for a decision to come down.
[RELATED – MLBTR Video: Kris Bryant Loses Grievance]
Bryant’s grievance was heard back in October, not long after the Cubs’ disappointing 2019 season came to an end. Back then, there was widespread belief that the Cubs would shake up their roster this offseason, maybe even with a Bryant trade, but they’ve instead sat on the sidelines for the most part. There hasn’t been a core-altering trade, nor have there been any especially noteworthy signings, leaving the Cubs with a team which doesn’t look any better than the one that mustered 84 wins and a third-place finish in the National League Central a season ago.
Spring training is fast approaching, so the window’s shrinking for an earth-shaking Cubs trade to come together before the season. Still, despite the outcome of his grievance, it’s up in the air how much longer Bryant will last as a Cub. There was trade speculation centering on the 28-year-old former NL MVP before Wednesday, and it continued then with a rumor linking him to Colorado and a one-for-one swap for fellow star third baseman Nolan Arenado. That type of deal seems highly unlikely to occur, as MLBTR’s Steve Adams detailed, though that doesn’t mean someone (Dodgers? Rangers? Braves?) won’t make the Cubs a palatable offer for Bryant sometime soon.
Of course, if the Cubs plan to contend in 2020, it’s hard to imagine a Bryant trade doing anything but worsening their chances. At the same time, moving him could presumably upgrade a farm system that has already made recent improvements and, to many fans’ chagrin, help the club avoid the luxury tax in 2020. Bryant’s due a $18.6MM salary, and getting rid of it would put the Cubs under the $208MM threshold by a fair margin (they’re currently projected at $214MM-plus, per Jason Martinez of Roster Resource). That said, the Cubs have until the end of the season to get under $208MM, meaning they may be inclined to see how they perform over the first few months of the year before deciding whether to sell off Bryant or any other high-priced players.
Bryant, for his part, doesn’t seem like a player who’s champing at the bit to get out of Chicago. Even though the grievance didn’t go his way, Bryant harbors “no ill will whatsoever” against the Cubs, which is yet another reason they don’t have to trade him. Nevertheless, we could still see more Bryant-headlined rumors in the coming weeks. Do you expect him to open 2020 as a Cub?
(Poll link for app users)
I think he is still be playing 3B for the Cubs in 2020, there is not going to be a trade package good enough to make a deal, Cubs don’t need to trade him and will not trade him to just trade him.
Not far fetch that Bryant can get back to MVP level in 2020, as I do believe his shoulder was not a 100% last season
I agree. It also took way too long to get that grievance figured out so now teams probably haven’t been engaged, and it’s really close to the season for talks to ramp back up again. Now, if the cubs aren’t in at come July, I’m thinking Bryant is gone. Phillies make sense as a team that can grab him and extend him if they are in it. Texas also makes sense if they are in it. And then of course the teams that have been talked about like the braves and dodgers (if they miss on Mookie).
I’m guessing they’ll see how they are playing come trade deadline and reassess. If they are running away with the division then luxury tax be damned. If not, then they’ll likely look for a team to trade with who needs to backfill an injury or just get over the hump. I really don’t think they’ll get any less for him now then they would at trade deadline.
Redsox and cubs make a trade
The Red Sox are trying to shed payroll. They don’t want Bryant’s salary. Even more importantly, the Red Sox have Devers. They don’t need Bryant.
use him in the outfield send Betts and price
……and add $40 million in payroll???? I don’t think so.
Phillies need to go get Bryant
Phillies don’t really have what the Cubs would want, besides Bohm.
The Phillies do need to get Bryant.
The Cubs want to stay under the luxury tax and getting rid of Bryant’s $18.6M salary would surely help.
Plus the Phillies have spent $100M in free agency three offseasons in a row, play in a division against defending-division champion Braves, World Series champion Nationals, and an interesting Mets team.
Don’t waste the recent rebuild.
Make the deal, Philly.
Phillies have absolutely nothing to offer outside of Bohm and Spencer who are considered untouchable and likely aren’t enough to get a deal done. Plus, despite the Phils free agent spending, they are under the luxury tax threshold and have a lot coming off the books in 2021. Phils will likely splurge then since it’s a huge FA class.
They are untouchable bc they have no true 3B option and jack for pitching prospects.
Exactly, and Bohm isn’t solof defensively.
This burrito is good but it is filling
gotta fill a burrito to make it a burrito in the first place…which has to be filling?!…chicken or the egg conundrum all over again smh
The man punted Baxter?
Why did I choose milk on such a hot day?!?
Future Mets great
No thank you.
If Theo does not have a deal now, he will by July.
No rush to trade Kris.
Now Quintana could be traded before Opening Day,
Kris will be on a MVP run this year. Has to build up two straight great years for that $400 million contract after 2021.
No way they trade Q, who would eat those 200 innings?
They never should have acquired him. If he was going to be traded, it would have happened by now
Best trade ever.
Lol. Bryant will never see a ten year 40 per deal. Never. He is a good player. Very good at times but not a star. There is only so much air Boras can pump into him. No one will give 20 percent of their entire payroll to him. He is not the kind of impact player that commands the giant contract. In fact he is someone that most teams will not want to pay big money over a long term commitment. He has a reality check coming. Will Boras be dumb enough to Arrieta him or will he end up with eight years at 150. That’s about his market and only if he’s not hurt badly during the next two years Will be 30 at free agent time and is not the best fielder. Balls fly out of Wrigley. Wonder what his HR rate is on the road?
Wish the Sox spent dumb $ like the cubs still think cubs have better team but if you put gerrit Cole and Bryce Harper on Sox are payroll still be around 15 mill cheaper
But Theo is a God
…. what?
Guess what fishy – you don’t have to worry about Cole and Harper on the sox payroll – you know why? It’s because neither of them would want to play for that cheap ownership. Except for Grandal, no self respecting FA has used the Sox for anything, except driving up their asking price.
Yep your right can’t argue that
But hey keep getting those top free agents
Heyward
Darvish
Edwin Jackson
Great back end of bullpen last year almost as much as Sox whole payroll
Chatwood 13 mill
Kimbrell 14 mill
Morrow 10 mill
Strop 7 mill
Gotta love sox fans, all the moves they make for the first time in their existence. The same moves that just might’ve put them in contention for the division and they still have nothing better to do but read Cubs news and make dumb comments. Get over the little brother complex and worry about your own team loser
Gotta love sox fans, all the moves they make for the first time in their existence. The same moves that just might’ve put them in contention for the division and they still have nothing better to do but read Cubs news and make dumb comments. Get over the little brother complex and worry about your own team loser.
A sox fan that knows the payroll of the Cubs bullpen? Haha there’s a shocker
A sox fan that knows the payroll of the Cubs bullpen? Haha there’s a shocker.
lol!
I love how you have to specify White Sox bc everyone thinks you are referring to a different team if you don’t. LOL!
How many rings does any White Sox player have in the last ten years? Oh yea, zero. Please wake me up when you get one.
New White Sox SP Dallas Keuchel earned a World Series ring with the Astros in 2017. Just saying…
Additionally, RP Kelvin Herrera also has one from his 2015 championship season with the Royals. That’s not too shabby considering the vast majority of the White Sox 40-man roster is composed of players with 4 years or less of MLB experience including a boatload of prospects who haven’t even made their big league debuts yet.
If anything he’ll be traded at the deadline for the best deal. Teams closest to contention will be more willing to trade at that time
I’m still greiving that Kris (I cant wait to leave the Cubs) Bryant hasn’t been traded yet.
Where are these stories about Bryant wanting to leave Chicago? I cannot find any.
why do you suppose he wants out of his contract next year instead of a year later?
Ummm to get a big money contract before he turns 30,, most logical reason you’d want to become a FA a year earlier
Did you really need to ask why he tried to become a FA a year earlier? How do you remember to breathe in and out?
He will end up like Arrieta and will regret not taking the extension the Cubs previously offered.
he will be an Angel
Then jo Adell is a cub
Let’s hope not, he’s so young and in good health
Lol… So Adell will be a Cub? Cause that is literally all Angels have to get Bryant
He will probably be traded end of July because his agent will want 8 yrs 240 mil. If he truly wants to be a Cub he would not go to flee agency and do something like a 9 year 220 mil extension. This way he gets close to 240mil still and the Cubs get him at a little over 24 mil per year. It won’t happen though.
Actually 8/$240 would be about right, though I might offer 8/.$230, to start, and he’d be worth every penny of it. That’s less than Arenado, Rendon, and Machado but more than Donaldson.
Yes, Bryant will be on the Cubs roster when the season begins. No, the rest of the NL is worried about the Cubs. And for you Reds, no one is worried about you, either. May as well be the Diamondbacks.
Not gonna be a Yankee so he’s gonna be a loser like the rest of baseballs. 2020 champs !!
Like a puppy yapping and jumping for attention.
What?
Just as bright, too.
Are you talking to me? What team do you follow that my Yankees will stomp a mudhole in loser?
Adorable.
Where did this troll come from ?
If he’s dealt it will likely be to the Braves. If they arent willing to part with whatever Theo asks for he will be a Cub on opening day.
Braves would love his bat but they shy away from guys that are below average def. and Bryant is close to that.at 3rd.
Have you seen Ozuna play defense. Bryant regressed from D last year, but compared to him, Kris Bryant is Brooks Robinson
I can promise you if he’s dealt it won’t be to the Braves. The Cubs seems to think they’re getting a kings ransom, and the Braves aren’t shortening their window by overpaying. They also aren’t helping the Cubs escape the hole they dug themselves into. If he’s dealt it’s to the Dodgers or some other team. Barring catastrophic injuries to for ex, Acuna or Freeman he won’t ever be in a Braves uniform. Please stop. Anyone willing to question this, I’m willing to bet $. Just let me know.
P.S. please shut up about Kris Bryant to the Braves. Thanks.
I wouldn’t mind a trade if it was a good trade ,,, but dont know what the rush is… I mean cubs have the best infield , maybe best line up, in the NL Central,,, their pitching sucks outside of Hendricks an Darvish , bullpen could be alright if everyone is healthy ..
Cardinals have the pitching , but outside of Goldy their offense is Avg
Brewers are trash now besides Hader, huira, n Yelich
Pirates , just gonna leave them be (locked up 5th, in the running to draft Kumar Rocker tho!)
Reds have Castillo and 2 streaky pitchers (Bauer n Gray, never know what they will do) Suarve is good ,,,Castillinos can hit,, rest of the squad is avg
So why are cubs in such a bad spot here?
Because to please the owner somebody had to go! Quintana’s salary is enough to get under the luxury tax penalty but Bryant’s salary dump would give them so wiggle room under the the salary cap! Something’s going to happen I just hope Theo and Jed don’t blow it!
I just read today Ricketts don’t care to get under the LuxTax they just don’t want to spend anymore big money , since next year their penalty will reset when Q, Chatwood, Lester, Descalco come off the books,, thats 45+ mil coming off
It will be close next year. Lester has a buyout, I think and All the cubs arbitration numbers will go way up. They are eventually going to have to cut bait with someone.
By the time that happens there will be a new CBA that I can guarantee you will have much higher spending thresholds and reduced penalties. And, the Marquee Network will be raking in the dough. Between that and all the guys mentioned above, they will have plenty of room to keep who they want. And Lester’s buyout is $10 million and that doesn’t count against the salary threshold.
I’m a reds fan and I was looking at it in depth today too. Cubs prob do still have best lineup in central; having a catcher who doesnt bat 8th goes a long way. and they should be going for it as their teams window is shutting. Have to believe Theo is up to something and it’s bout to get interesting
No lead off hitter, no second baseman, no center fielder and only two decent pitchers, one of whom had been injured 2/3 of his time with the Cubs. Thats why.
The pitching is the killer,,, but better pitching then Twins had last season … And leadoff is a bit over rated, not that big of a deal, they only are guaranteed to lead off 1 inning… Holes at 2nd n CF yes, but every team has holes, the division doesnt have a star CF so cubs Happ or almora isnt that far behind harder/Cain/senzel- Aimyaka/who ever Pittsburg role out … And 2nd base Hoerner should do fine,, not gonna be an all star but still… Pitching will make or break them
I think the Cubs should take a flyer on Scooter Gennett if he’s healthy. Good platoon with nico.
Nico Hoerner, ian Happ and Davis Bote can all play 2nd. Almora is one of the best CF in baseball. They dont have a lead off man someone will need to step up I guess. Hendricks, Yu and Lester are good. They have a good closer. Do you ever watch the cubs?
Almora is one of the best what??? Lol dude he is trash, Lester is well past the point of being good , hes avg and declining … Do you watch the games lol
Yea Theo trading dj for Ian Stewart looks pretty good
Last i looked Dj plays 2B and bats 1
Fishy out here bringing up history lessons… Although his white sox traded Tatis Jr for Jake Shields lol … But you bet bud, those white sox chats must be boring if you are checking in on the Cubs ,,, try getting your team over 4th place in the AL Central before you start piping up kiddo
That’s was eons ago. He left the Rockies a year ago and the Cubs had a pretty good DP combo two to four years ago.
Cubs rotation isn’t that bad. Lester and Quintana are both innings horses and Hendricks is one of the most underrated starting pitchers in baseball. They will certainly need Darvish to look like he did down the stretch and chatwood to finally earn his 13 million. They need that bullpen to hold a lead next year and they will be fine.
Actually read Alec mills is there favorite to be the number 5 not chatwood..remains to be seen if he can replicate the success he had his last few starts but might be another Hendricks type surprise same sorta pitcher
The Rickets have spent all winter telling their fans they’re one step away from living in a shoe with the whole family. They’re greasing the skids so they can trade the guy. Everybody knows it, so I imagine the offers have been less than scintillating. But there’s quite a bit of time between now and opening day. I can see a reasonable, forward thinking GM like AA of Atlanta making a fair offer, considering the circumstances.
“What do you do when you live in a shoe and you ain’t got no sole?…”
Was this an Ed Edd n’ Eddy reference?
Yes it is!.
He plays with the Cubs on Opening Day. If the Cubs get off to a great start, all is forgotten. If they stumble, trades will be made and most likely Bryant is on the move. They still have enough talent to win the NL Central.
Nats don’t hug prospects as much as other clubs. A pitcher like Sharp and high upside IF Antuna could be a win-win.
Lol who??? Lmao Nats have 2 ok prospects that wont land them Bryant … Kieboom and Rutlidge… Outside of that the farm is garbage
Exactly, Kieboom and Rutledge won’t even be close for KB. Better add Soto for Theo to even consider it.
Soto > Bryant.
Who?
I still think he’s the one who ends up on the Dodgers.
The Dodgers get every player and it never happens. Believe it when you see it.
I swear I remember seeing Yu Darvish and Manny Machado wearing Dodger uniforms.
May and Lux or Downs and you’re on
Sad to see Theo built a Powerhouse and then it it all went away so fast. Sad he overspent and the Ricketts are so cheap, especially in Chicago and the Cubs Brand. That team should of won at least two.
I get the feeling that if the Cubs had won two championships.. fans would be saying they should have won three.
I believe Theo saw the revenue coming in and compared it similarly to what came in during his tenure in Boston, considering inflation of course.
Unfortunately, I think that meant he envisioned he would get a payroll cap similar to what boston ownership offered (again, adding inflation). Sadly, his new ownership was much, much cheaper and unwilling to spend what it took the way his old bosses were.
Now you see the result… a core slipping away year by year because owners were too cheap to add the couple extra pieces to turn a perennial competitor into a legitimate perennial contender.
Using an inflation calculator, it doesn’t seem your point is valid
2004- $181.8m
2007- $197.4m
2011- $203.9m
2019 Cubs – $237.2m
Bryant is saying the right things, but have to think he would welcome a move out of Chicago.
Actually he wants to stay he does not want out. Why would he
Because he’s sick of their macho head games
He should be a Brave but the Braves rather see Anderson and Wright fail in their uniform.
Broken record.
Just like their postseason embarrassment.
Braves would love his bat but they shy away from guys that are below average def. and Bryant is close to that.at 3rd.
You are right. Explains the terrible Ozuna signing.
No one year deal is a terrible deal
Have you seen Ozuna play the field?
Yeah including the jumping on the wall and ball falling in front of him. Still doesn’t make it a horrible deal. He’s still a better defender than Castellanos and another year removed from his shoulder injury. If you want to pick apart everything in a vacuum go ahead, but even with his worts and flaws he’s still not a horrendous fielder
I think he stays with the cubs and gets traded at the deadline if they are behind by at least 5 games
What do you guys think are the reasons for the hold ups on trades? Teams not wanting to trade higher end prospects or teams asking for too much? He has contract value and elite in a demand position.
Well, the ruling on KB’s grievance was just finalized yesterday, so there’s that.
I meant in general not just this trade.
Only players that seem to be on the block are really good players with either big contracts (Arenado, Betts), 1 yr of control (Betts), team not really wanting to trade unless they are getting over paid (Lindor,Clevinger), or just got his grievance dispute settled (Bryant)… The rest of the trade market has been slowed by this cause no one wants to go for K Seager when there’s still a shot at Bryant/Arenado.. No one wants to dip into that tier til these guys have been moved or have been taken off the trade block.. And making a deal for Mookie or Nolan is gonna be tough … All Star value, only 1 yr ..boston wants good prospects cause hes a star, no one wants to give up to much cause hes a rental…
Thank you for your feedback. I was thinking asking prices been to high until the marte trade. Pirates got good prospects but couldn’t get anyone a little closer? Is this going to be the trend going forward or just random? Even last trade deadline was like this.
I think it all depends on situations and positions … I wouldnt but it past Bryant or even Arenado landing a nice package, 3rd base is tough to find.. There’s a ton of good outfielders and Marte isnt really in his prime anymore.. I think asking prices are high, but with certain players it should be… I mean the cardinals -rays trade had I high profile pitching prospect (Liberatore) for a decent DH, and lesser OF prospect … Why wouldn’t Arenado or Bryant fetch a higher return then that
I think the answer all comes back to the CBT.
The yearly escalator on the CBT has been so low, it hasn’t even kept pace with inflation. We’re talking around a 1% escalator this year.
It takes teams so long to rebuild for contention, they want to keep a competitive window open as long as they can – not just rebuild 5-6 yrs, win one out of 3-4 strong seasons, then go back to tanking 5-6 more.
In years past you made the big trades, spent prospects, then paid what it took to keep your core. Now you can’t keep everyone – you need to keep mixing fresh, cheap cost minimum talent in to balance things. You blow the limit by too much, then you lose international singing ability. You lose draft slot position and money juggling ability to pay over slot deeper in the draft. Your tools are getting taken away.
Most prospects bust. Even a majority of “blue chip” early/low level prospects fail to become league average major league ballplayers with any type of career. You make that up through quantity.
Trades cost you that quantity – and rightfully so, because you get a sure thing for something that, unless asking for the best of the best prospects, is likely to give you zero in return, just busted prospects.
I think the White Sox kidnap him and take him to the South Side and then he’ll be playing for the best team in Chicago.
An Arenado Bryant trade is what Writers think their trade value is, not a source. The trade doesn’t make sense for either team. The Cubs want to get under the CBT and the Cub don’t have the top pitching prospects that the Rockies want. If it makes Cubs fans happy, they can keep dreaming,
It makes a ton of sense for the Rockies. Even a straight up trade. Wont happen because Bryant has more value. They dump long term salary commitment for a player at least as good and have him for 2 years the same 2 years they have left with story. They would be smart to trade both of them even though fans would hate it. They just need to come out and say we over committed ourselves and we can’t sign young quality free agent pitchers and need to rebuild to get the elite pitchers a team needs to contend.
Two years of Bryant if he doesn’t sign an extension with the team who traded for him… The Price is not right imo. No disrespect to Bryant he’s a great player but the prospects pus $$$. Stay away for now. Play the waiting game if possible. pretty much what everyone else has been commenting.
Trade a couple of the OFs… Schwarber and Heyward. Then extend Bryant.
How do you trade Heyward?
And who replaces schwarbers bat ?
Cubs have 2 good outfielders but most likely wont be up til 2022 , 1 CF and 1 RF
See blockbuster below, part of which includes trading Jason Heyward’s bad contract for Charlie Blackmon’s. Blackmon becomes the Cubs much needed leadoff hitter. Kris Bryant swaps teams and positions with Nolan Arenado. Tyler Chatwood returns to the Rockies were he was a solid SP in 2016 and 2017 while Wade Davis comes back to the Cubs where he excelled as their closer in 2017.
Davis and Craig Kimbrel each regain their former mojo as dominating late inning bullpen pieces. Kyle Schwarber stays in LF and in the middle of the Cubs batting order. He will never have to worry about being the Cubs leadoff hitter again under new manager David Ross, something he was forced to do twice under former skipper Joe Maddon.
I was proposing the possibility of a blockbuster trade involving the Cubs and Rockies earlier this offseason. I had a scenario where 3B’s Kris Bryant & Nolan Arenado could be involved once the former’s arbitration grievance was settled which just occurred. I also proposed an expanded blockbuster with the likes of RF’s Jason Heyward & Charlie Blackmon swapping teams along with former Cub closer Wade Davis & former Rockie SP Tyler Chatwood also being involved in a mega deal.
Both teams are at or nearing the point where their window for reaching the postseason is closing. Each could prolong that with a major shakeup involving players who either want out or could benefit from a change of scenery. The money here with all these players would be relatively close.
As for the two right-fielders, each are playing under substantial contracts that don’t line up with their current production. Heyward is still just 30-years old and 3 years younger than Blackmon. Heyward would be a much better fit with his Gold Glove defense in the vast outfield dimensions of Coors Field. Heyward would also likely benefit with an offensive spike as most every player does in Colorado, perhaps even returning to the numbers he amassed in Atlanta and St.Louis before bottoming out with the Cubs after signing that 8 yrs / $184MM free agent contract in time for the Cubs 2016 championship season. Blackmon signed a 6 yrs / $108MM contract extension back in April of 2018 that includes two player options in those last two years, 2022 and 2023. Those years line up with the final ones of Heyward’s contract when Blackmon will be 36 compared to the latter’s 33 year old age. Blackmon began his career in Colorado in CF and moved to RF as he aged and lost a step. He would be a better fit defensively in Wrigley Field and might even be adequate back in CF which has MLB’s smallest area to cover. More importantly, Blackmon could fill the Cubs leadoff role that has been a black hole since the departure of Dexter Fowler following their World Series title.
Davis joined the Cubs in 2017 from the Royals in a trade that sent young slugger Jorge Soler to Kansas City. Davis became the Cubs closer and was outstanding after the Cubs decided to pass on their own 2016 rental acquisition Aroldis Chapman who became a FA after the Cubs World Series championship. Davis turned out to be a one-year rental himself when the Rockies signed him to a 3 yrs/$52MM FA contract the following offseason which also has a $15MM mutual option in 2021. Davis was decent in his first season as the Rockies 2018 closer with an NL leading 43 saves, one that also included 6 blown saves as he wilted down the stretch. He only blew one save with the Cubs the previous season. Davis was awful last season when he was injured and also lost his closing job. As for Chatwood, he also pitched much better as a Rockies starter than he did after joining the Cubs as a free agent the same offseason that Davis signed with Colorado. Chatwood also signed a 3 year FA contract with a total value of 38MM that has no options and expires following the upcoming season. As for age, Davis is 34 which not necessarily old for a relief pitcher. Chatwood is 30.
The Rockies would gain some youth with a blockbuster involving Bryant, Heyward and Chatwood. Colorado would also get a huge defensive boost in RF and add a 30-year old starter who had success pitching in Coors Field back in 2016 and 2017. The Cubs benefit by solving their leadoff dilemma with a player who still possesses a solid bat and high OBP but won’t steal the high number of bases he once did earlier in his career. They also badly need to restock a bullpen that has seen a mass exodus in free agency this past offseason. Davis would be a risk but probably not any worse than the gamble they took on 31-year old FA Craig Kimbrel last summer. The upside of having two former dominant closers at the back end of their 2020 bullpen just might be worth an additional gamble with a starting rotation that still has some quality names but isn’t getting younger with Jon Lester and Jose Quintana holding two of those rotation spots.
nope….the Cubs are trying to get cheaper and Nolan>Kris and Blackmon>Heyward,,the Cubs are staring into the Abyss clutching that WS title bc Theo didn’t build the farm enough and missed basically on all his free agent signings,
Too long… Aaron pls post executive overview.
Life is short…. Aaron’s posts are not.
Is anyone loyal in sports….other than the stupid fans?
Bryant would fit nicely on the Mets
opening day I think he will be in the Phillies lineup. that would give the Philly 2 years to work out a long-term extension
At the beginning of the offseason I would’ve sworn he wouldn’t be with the Cubs in 2020 but at this point I find it difficult to envision a trade materializing. I’m far from a Cubs fan but I was interested to see how they’d subtract from the mlb roster to actually improve their 2020 team. I’m not sure they can anymore. The offers they’ve gotten for the players they were looking to deal obviously haven’t been to their liking. They may end up running out a similar roster to 2019 and waiting for money to fall off the books. I don’t see a deadline deal for Bryant unless the Cubs are completely out of it and I don’t think they are that bad to be in that spot. If Bryant kills it during the first half the Cubs will likely want to hold onto him for their own run and if he doesn’t they’re likely to hold on to him so he can rebuild value. If it were going to happen I think it would’ve already
Bryant will be on the Cubs’ opening day roster in 2020. The only way Bryant is moved if the Cubs are struggling by the trade deadline. However, the Cubs are not going to get much for Bryant right now due to his salary for 2020 and 2021. The Cubs would get a MLB ready player that is controllable for five years with one high level prospects or two middle level prospects.
What about a trade to the Indians? Tribe needs a big bar and they have several prospect and MLB young players. I wondering if a Logan Allen, Bauers, Zimmer and a Plesac or Civale would be a tease?
As a Dodger fan I would rather have Bryant than Betts. I do not understand why Friedman is so bent on adding Mookie Betts after both Boston and Houston are guilty of cheating. I personally don’t want any player from these two teams.
Friedman is not bent on adding Mookie, the media is bent on the Dodgers adding Mookie. If the Dodgers wanted Mookie or Lindor they would have them already. Problem is Joc Pederson fir Mookie straight up will never happen and you would have to pry prospects from Friedman’s cold dead hand before he will part with any.
The Dodgers look like the front runner for Mookie Betts with RF Alex Verdugo as the prime piece going back to the Red Sox. The eventual deal may also include SP David Price. Either scenario will have Verdugo as the centerpiece for Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom, a former protégé of Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman when the latter was the GM for the Tampa Bay Rays.
The latest rumors according to Peter Gammons has Mookie to the Dodgers for Verdugo, Jeter Downs, and Caleb Ferguson. And that three NL teams tell him a deal to the Dodgers is “inevitable”.