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Mike Rizzo: Nationals Not Pursuing Kris Bryant Trade

By Mark Polishuk | December 15, 2020 at 1:28pm CDT

Reports last month mentioned Kris Bryant as a potential Nationals trade target, but Washington GM Mike Rizzo rather definitively ruled out a Bryant swap during a session with reporters (including ESPN.com’s Jesse Rogers) this afternoon.

“We haven’t had a serious conversation about Kris Bryant in probably two years,” Rizzo said.  “He was not a big guy on our radar last year or this year.  He’s a great player but at this point and time of where we’re at, and what we have in our farm system, and where we’re going, we think we can allocate our dollars and prospect capital in another way.”

As Rogers noted, it’s something of an “unusual step” for a general manager to so publicly and specifically comment on trade negotiations.  It could be that this is some gamesmanship on Rizzo’s part if talks with the Cubs are actually still ongoing, though there’s no real reason to believe Rizzo is being anything but forthright in his comments.

Bryant is, after all, coming off the worst of his six MLB seasons, as he battled injuries throughout 2020 and hit only .206/.293/.351 over 147 plate appearances.  While it isn’t hard to imagine Bryant returning to his old form with better health next season and with a more measurable sample size of playing time, counting on such a rebound year might not be a risk that the Nats want to take — especially since Bryant is projected to earn an $18.6MM salary in 2021, his final year of arbitration eligibility.

It isn’t yet known if Washington can fully stretch its payroll this offseason, but there have been indications that the Nationals are able to spend some money, if not something in the neighborhood of $18.6MM to one player for one season.  The Nats were connected to Carlos Santana before he signed with the Royals, and the District has also showed interest in a former Bryant teammate in Kyle Schwarber.

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View Comments (58)

Comments

  1. Braveslifer

    2 years ago

    Gotta be between Braves and Dodgers. Justin Turner could be Braves 3B for 2021 and then be DH for 2022? Could this be less expensive than Ozuna? Do you expect Ozuna to repeat 2020?

    Reply
    • James1955

      2 years ago

      The dodgers would rather have Turner. The Braves if they don’t have to give up very much.

      Reply
      • Braveslifer

        2 years ago

        Yeah, I wasn’t sure if they soured on Turner or will re-sign him. I can’t see giving up anything for Bryant with the money owed to him. Maybe a Bryant/Inciarte swap? This is why I’m not a GM in the MLB…

        Reply
        • Laughing@You

          2 years ago

          Jt was the Dodger de facto captain for most of his time here. He’s a local kid, went to school here and now won a title. Nothing has soured in LA

        • egrossen

          2 years ago

          Inciarte to the Cubs would make sense. Even though Bryant had a down year, I would assume a prospect would be involved as well though.

    • FredMcGriff for the HOF

      2 years ago

      Bryant is to expensive. Turner is too expensive and 36 years old. I would rather give Riley another long hard look. Looks like another short season from the scamdemic anyways….

      Reply
      • Braveslifer

        2 years ago

        Yeah, I’m thinking along those lines too, but how long is Riley’s leash? What do we have as our backup plan?

        Reply
        • FredMcGriff for the HOF

          2 years ago

          @braveslifer. Camargo unfortunately. I was hoping he’d be non tendered. Comes across as lazy.

        • Braveslifer

          2 years ago

          Yes, lazy or complacent

      • cadagan

        2 years ago

        Volunteer for a week at a hospital, or a funeral home.

        Reply
    • Prospectnvstr

      2 years ago

      I’d be more inclined to re-sign Ozuna than trade for Bryant. Keep Riley at 3B. Ozuna is DEFINITELY not a Gold Glover by ANY means but he is SERVICEABLE in the OF.

      Reply
      • Laughing@You

        2 years ago

        Ozuna in the OF not only negates his bat value, but likely leads to him producing less with the wear and tear of playing the field

        Reply
  2. nats3256

    2 years ago

    Quite frankly, any noteworthy prospects aren’t worth it qt this point. Ride this crazy 2021 year out and get him in FA if you really want him. – This goes for anybody, not just the Nats.

    Reply
    • cheesesteak

      2 years ago

      Anybody who wants him in FA is gonna have to deal with Boras pushing some lucrative idea.

      Reply
      • ChiSox_Fan

        2 years ago

        KB for a bag of balls!

        Reply
        • Cubs GM

          2 years ago

          That’s not good enough. I would think a 24 pack of Old Style beer and a case of Vienna polish sausage.

  3. James1955

    2 years ago

    Bryant. One year of a player that had a bad year and you have to give up top prospects. Nobody is interested.

    Reply
    • rondon

      2 years ago

      I hope the Cubs hang onto him. Since his value is down, why not give it til midseason? If he’s regained some value, re sign him or trade him then. If he doesn’t improve, at least get the draft pick compensation later. I know there’s a lot of Cub haters on here, but heck, the guy had a serious run from 2015-19. I’d bet on him coming back.

      Reply
      • HubcapDiamondStarHalo

        2 years ago

        ZERO guarantee he’d turn down a QO…

        Reply
      • oldtimer

        2 years ago

        They will have to keep him. He has no trade value worth his 2021 salary. If he doesn’t play better this year his career will be over.

        Reply
      • jimthegoat

        2 years ago

        If he doesn’t improve no way he declines the QO

        Reply
  4. CJML

    2 years ago

    At this point cubs should absolutely keep him and hope he rebounds. If he plays well then make a qualifying offer. The nationals are in a bad spot in a tough division, I wouldn’t be trading prospects either.

    Reply
    • jediknight

      2 years ago

      Correct on all points. I just think the Cubs misfired by not dealing him last winter, if they really wanted to trade him. At this point they have little leverage, so why not just keep him.

      Reply
      • jimthegoat

        2 years ago

        Yes, in hindsight, they should have traded him last offseason. But they were trying to contend and he was coming off a 4.8 WAR season.

        Reply
  5. Papabueno

    2 years ago

    Ya….no. Give up two prospects for a one-year rental, with an $18M price tag, for a guy that is coming off a poor 2020 season? Nats have several guys that can play 3B (Castro, Kieboom and Harrison), and holes to fill. in LF, 1B, C, the rotation and BP. They can fill several of them with $18M.

    Reply
    • ImACubsFanSoWhat

      2 years ago

      Just throwing this out there real quick, KB can also play both corner OF spots and 1B…

      Reply
      • Papabueno

        2 years ago

        True, but he is still an expensive 1-year rental, in a revenue challenged environment.

        Reply
  6. MetsFan22

    2 years ago

    Nimmo LF
    Springer CF
    Conforto RF
    Alonso DH
    Smith 1B
    McNeil 2B
    JD Davis 3B
    McCann C
    Gimenez SS

    Rosario
    Flowers
    Kike Hernandez
    Marisnick

    Degrom
    Stroman
    Odorrizi
    Walker
    Peterson
    Matz
    Syndergaard

    Hendricks
    Lugo
    Diaz
    May
    Castro
    Bentances
    Familia

    This team would dominate!!! I hope they do something similar

    Reply
    • kyleschwarbersmom

      2 years ago

      So you’re saying you don’t want Bryant. Thanks for posting.

      Reply
      • Kapostatuz

        2 years ago

        Lmao facts

        Reply
    • hyraxwithaflamethrower

      2 years ago

      That team would be good, certainly much improved, but I’d still rate that team behind the Dodgers, so I don’t think “dominate” is the right word.

      Reply
      • MetsFan22

        2 years ago

        More than one team could dominate. Dodgers could be better. Doesn’t mean Mets wouldn’t be able to beat them in a playoffs series.

        Reply
        • Natsman1

          2 years ago

          Can’t ever have an MLBTR article without MetsFan22 reminding us in the comments section that The Muts are just soooooooo close to dominating. And in that same light, I would like everyone to know that I am sooooooooo close to sleeping with Margot Robbie.

        • MetsFan22

          2 years ago

          I’m happy you guys won in 2019. The next 5 years might not be fun

        • Wadz

          2 years ago

          The last decade sans ’15 its been a joy finishing behind the Nats huh?

        • MetsFan22

          2 years ago

          Yeah thank god the wilpons are gone. You won’t like the new Mets.

        • Wadz

          2 years ago

          Yes, Im sure.

        • Natsman1

          2 years ago

          You’ve done quite a job establishing yourself as the resident MLBTR Boy Who Cried Wolf, so kindly forgive me and the rest of us if we believe the opposite of what you typically forecast from your Mets-colored lenses glasses perspective. I do however, find it comforting that you feel so intimidated by the Nats that you feel compelled to comment about the Mets in a NATIONALS article. I will ask you a favor: kindly stay away from investing in companies I own stock in. Your bad karma is the worst kind.

        • Prospectnvstr

          2 years ago

          Natsman1:Why’d you ever want to do that? Just to say that you did it?

        • MetsFan22

          2 years ago

          Lol there was no Mets article. I didn’t even know this was a Nats article. I just wanted to write a roster that I made recently and share it…

        • kyleschwarbersmom

          2 years ago

          My condolences that Shakira already turned you down.

        • Natsman1

          2 years ago

          Well hey, give a guy credit for trying.

    • Dorothy_Mantooth

      2 years ago

      Braves are still better than that fantasy lineup.

      Reply
      • MetsFan22

        2 years ago

        Braves are better rn. If the Mets do what I wrote(the probably won’t) the Mets would have the better roster.

        Reply
  7. Natsman1

    2 years ago

    “We think we can allocate our dollars and prospect capital in another way”.

    Reply
  8. Natsman1

    2 years ago

    Bryant’s been dangled by the Cubs for awhile. No takers. Not a Cubs fan, but would think they would be better off to not be in a rush, and hold onto Bryant and hope he regains his mojo in ’21. And if they’re out of the playoff race, deal him then. In the Nats’ case, that $18m would be better spent on a different RH bat to protect Soto.

    Reply
    • lowereastsider

      2 years ago

      Agreed. Selling low on Bryant now isn’t going to Cubs any type of meaningful return. Deadline trade or QO.

      Reply
    • Armaments216

      2 years ago

      Bryant has even less trade value once the season starts. Only the team he begins the season with can extend a QO for 2022. Cubs would probably need to eat some of his remaining salary to move him midseason.

      Reply
    • drasco036

      2 years ago

      Bryant is not going to be traded this offseason and based on the fact that the rest of the NL Central is cutting cost, he won’t be dealt mid-season because the Cubs are going to be competitive.

      The Cubs have a big advantage in personnel if they choose to spend a little in free agency and that advantage is that their players can be shifted around. Bryant can play any outfield position if they want to add a third baseman or a second baseman and shift Bote or Hoerner to the hot corner. Hoerner can play CF, SS, second and third. Bote can play second and third. Happ can play all three outfield positions well. So they can target guys who are good fits and adjust the defensive positioning accordingly.

      I think the Cubs will spend near the luxury tax threshold for 2021, the cost cutting BS is overblown. They simply want to get below the LT since they have been over for a couple years. That still allows them some wiggle room to improve the roster and the flexibility allows them to shift guys around to accommodate nearly any free agent target.

      I personally would go after LaStella to play third and Wong to play second, shifting KB to LF. I could also see the Cubs getting in on Kim as a potential Kris Bryant or Javy Baez replacement moving forward. Again, the could fit Kim in at either third or second and shift KB if need be.

      Reply
      • CJML

        2 years ago

        I hope you are right about the spending but it sure doesn’t appear it’s going to happen. If they are still trying to trade Bryant to field a team they are doomed. They are well under the luxury tax right now but have 2 outfield spots, 2 sp spots and some bullpen arms to replace. That’s easily done with 40+ million dollars and they don’t even need to go bargain bin shopping.

        Reply
  9. Rsox

    2 years ago

    The Nats wanted Bryant with two years of control now that he is down to one year and almost zero chance of signing an extension giving up prospects for one season seems less appealing. I think the Red Sox were thinking the same thing. Bryant will probably finish out his contract with the Cubs because i don’t see a team giving up a premium package for on almost certain to be abbreviated season

    Reply
  10. Get rid of the softball players

    2 years ago

    Blame little theo epstein for not getting anyone of value back for bryant

    Reply
    • drasco036

      2 years ago

      I’ll blame “little Theo Epstein” for playoff appearances in 5 out of the past 6 years and for giving the Cubs the most successful 6 year run in their franchise history… Not to mention the joy of seeing one their pitchers win the NL Cy Young and KB winning MVP honors.

      Reply
    • Whifff

      2 years ago

      Theo knows how to tank with the best of them. But when he does build it, he has no clue how to maintain. He is shockingly inept at maintaining because he falls in love with his draft picks.

      Reply
  11. Whifff

    2 years ago

    The Cubs brass fell in love with the 2016 team and they are simply paralyzed. This team should have been broken up 3 years ago, when the pieces actually had value. At $19mil Bryant has zero value.

    Reply
    • keysox

      2 years ago

      Yap – they all do it.
      Cubs should move Bryant and Hendricks together. Say to Toronto. Pearson and a couple of prospects.
      Then move Contreras and Darvish together to Yanks. Frazier and a couple of pitching prospects.
      Payroll solved. Still have Rizzo, Baez, Happ, and Heyward. Plus Bote, Hoerner,and backup catcher.
      Sign JBJ., Odizz, and Lester

      Reply
  12. Laughing@You

    2 years ago

    Wait. So you mean all these “X team is interested in Kris Bryant”… are BS from the Cubs!?!? What a concept!

    Rizzo must be sick of getting asked questions daily about KB haha

    Reply
  13. justacubsfan

    2 years ago

    Well according to mlbtr kris bryant was a non-tender candidate. Why would they be interested in trading for him? Haha. Not gonna lie, that was the worst take on this website in awhile by the braintrust.

    Reply

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