Kris Bryant is drawing interest from multiple teams as the trade deadline approaches, with MLB Network’s Jon Heyman (Twitter link) reporting that the Mets are one of the clubs considering the former NL MVP. There isn’t any indication that the Cubs are close to a deal with the Mets or any other team about Bryant, though tonight’s trade of Joc Pederson indicates that the Cubs are indeed open for business with more than two weeks to go before the trade deadline.
This isn’t the first time that Bryant has been linked to the Mets, as Chicago and New York reportedly had discussions involving Bryant during the offseason (though Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said reports of those talks were inaccurate). Speculatively, if J.D. Davis was indeed discussed as part of a potential trade return and if he is still on the Cubs’ radar, it could be that nothing might get done between the Mets and Cubs about Bryant until Davis makes his expected return from the injured list Friday and shows that he is healthy. A pair of injuries to Davis’ left hand has limited him to only 14 games this season.
It isn’t a surprise that the Mets (or any contender) would be checking in on Bryant, considering his potential value as a difference-maker for a team in October. Bryant has rebounded from an injury-plagued 2020 to hit .271/.353/.502 with 16 homers over 329 plate appearances this season, with the caveat that most of that production came within the first two months. Since June 1, Bryant has only a .568 OPS and four home runs in 117 PA, and his Statcast numbers are solid overall but middling when it comes to hard contact numbers.
With free agency looming this winter, Bryant has plenty of incentive to step up big over the remainder of the season and put himself in good position for a big free agent contract. Given the trade speculation that has swirled around Bryant for over two years now, it wouldn’t really be surprising to see him take off at the plate if/when he finally did get dealt.
The Mets’ projected luxury tax number is roughly $13.5MM under the $210MM threshold. Bryant’s remaining salary (he is owed $19.5MM in 2021) would eat up a big chunk of that remaining space and leave the Mets with little wiggle room to make further additions while staying under the threshold, unless some other contracts were moved to the Cubs or in other trades. That said, Mets owner Steve Cohen has expressed an openness for crossing the tax threshold in the right circumstances, and would seemingly rather blow by the $210MM figure than only exceed it by a small amount. If Cohen did authorize such a big go-for-it push, the financial aspect of a Bryant trade might not be an issue for the Mets.
On the field, Bryant obviously brings plenty of value to the NL East leaders. As Heyman notes, Bryant’s ability to play multiple positions (both corner infield spots and all three outfield spots) adds to his value, particularly for a New York team that hasn’t gotten much production and has been looking to solidify third base.
Bag of balls and some bubble gum should get the deal done
So original. You should consider a job in journalism.
Or trash collection.
Got ‘em
Isn’t that the same thing these days?
Wow how insightful. Too bad the White Sox didn’t realize they could have offered that same exact thing to get the pile of crap that was James Shields instead of dealing Tatis Jr for him. Oops.
or the fact they traded Marcus Semien for Jeff Samardija hahahahaha
Semien doesn’t count anymore. Anyone could have picked him up last year. But Bassitt does.
Semien was a MVP candidate in Oakland, so he he does
If you think Sox fans are salty, check out the swarm of cubs fan comments on articles about the Sox…
White Sox fans do realize they had an 88 year drought, right?
88 < 100
weird, that’s exactly what the White Sox got in exchange for Fernando tatis.
no kidding Not Davis. No way No How
Let go Mets.go get Kris Bryant now
As a Cubs fan im all for it just pay up and hes yours
Time to fire up MLB Trade Values and put together some trades that will never happen.
Time to come home and play, KB! Bring Hendricks with you, please!
Is there a team in Vegas?
That’s an interesting point could the As go in the off-season for him…
Bryant for Puk and a sweetner
Wasn’t he born in San Diego played in Vegas? Or the other way around
He played for the University of San Diego.
Nice jenius
The irony of someone calling someone else on here unintelligent while spelling genius wrong…. and not even the way most people misspell it. Jenius? Really?
Hendricks isn’t going anywhere unless its a massive overpay
Born and raised in Vegas. Played Little League with Bryce Harper and Joey Gallo. Went to college at the University of San Diego.
Can he play 2nd base?
Probably
Sounds like breaking news from last winter. Waste of a few megabits.
2 good prospects, with 1 being a pitcher and Mets take the salary should do it.
Mets Phillies and at least another contender or two involved for Bryant would be doing the Cubs a huge service where no one team has leverage over them
The Cubs should find out if JD Davis is healthy first, and if he’s proves to be back to his old self, then acquire him along with one of the Mets top 5 pitching prospects, and add one more prospect in the 10-15 range, and that should get the deal done..
Mets get Kris Bryant
Cubs get JD Davis, their 3rd or 4th best pitching prospect, and one more solid Mets prospext that’s ranked between #10-#15..
Cubs would have probably already have done that already if it was there ! They will do well but not great if they can get multiple teams bidding ! Like 1 young cost controlled mlb player like Davis or bohm for example , one prospect from a teams 5 to 10 range and a flyer or two ‘ should do slightly better then the rangers dodgers darvish deal but not like the 2016 Chapman to Cubs trade
That is actually reasonable, especially since the Mets front office wanted him last year and during the off-season. I expect them to go hard for him this off-season. It will likely depend on how many teams want him though bc while he is a great player, he is pricy for some and still a rental.
I’d prefer that the Mets keep JD bc of his control and cheap deal. He has been great at the plate and he is working on his D. I have no illusions that his glove will be anything but below avg or worse, but he’d be a solid DH option for the Mets next year. Bryant will be $$$ and the Mets have bigger needs in regard to extending guys and reworking their roster.
Jd davis has a floor that’s higher then the worse versions of kris Bryant where Mets might still trade him with some other sweetners with Davis , Bryant has a level he’s been at times that Davis would never come close to approaching,
Ha! Try again!
That’s way to much. He is a rental.
Eh, what’s wrong with KB though? Has he declined or is he in a slump? I get Conforto vibes
As a long time Mets fan I pray we don’t get Kris Bryant; of course a braves fan would love to see the Mets saddled with another player in his decline
If we do only a cheap rental of a minor leager
That sounds like a better package than what Machado and Betts went for. There’s no way Bryant is that costly.
To be honest, I would like the Mets to get Bryant, but I’d prefer to keep JD Davis. If they can get him without giving up Davis (or anyone from the Major League roster) I’d be all for it, but giving up up 3 years of Davis for 2 months of Bryant doesn’t seem worth it. Especially considering Bryant’s ice cold bat.
Even though it is not a large sample size but nobody seems to be talking about Bryants 10-27 in July!!!
JD Davis carries some health and injury concerns, so his value is slightly pointing downward at the moment. Even still, I think the Mets would likely think they could resign Bryant, so I feel they’d be more comfortable trading away JD Davis, and his remaining years of control..
The trade I proposed above earlier, I feel is most certainly an excellent deal for the Cubs, as it would help them re-tool instead of having to go through a full rebuild..
If they pay what it cost to get bryant they will be doing it with intention of signing him long term i would think..so doubt he would be a rental
The fact that he’s a rental makes his price cheaper
That’s a good point I hadn’t considered. An extension would change the equation for sure.
“Bryant’s $19.5MM salary counts entirely against the tax bill for average annual value purposes even if more than half the actual money has already been paid to the slugger, so acquiring Bryant alone would put New York over the tax line, unless some other contracts were moved to the Cubs or in other trades.”
I don’t get this. Isn’t the CBT hit about $8 million to the Mets if the Cubs don’t pay any salary?
I agree, this makes no sense. The Cubs have paid at least 60% of Bryant’s salary so far this year so any team that acquires him should only be on the hook for the remaining 40%, and only that 40% should count against the acquiring team’s CBT. Why would the Mets get charged for the full $19M? It makes no sense.
The system was already set up this way so that cap numbers are set for the season regardless of when a player is traded. For example, if the Cubs were to accept Familia in addition to Davis for Bryant, that would keep the Mets under the threshold, since Familia will still count for $10M against the cap.
Wrong. Only the portion of salary FAMILIA pitched for the Mets would count against the cap, the remainder would be apportioned to the acquiring team.
I meant under the cap for luxury tax purposes. There’s no hard cap. The yearly salary for all players is what is considered re luxury tax regardless of when the move is made during the year.
Cubs are way under the cap, they would gladly pay the remainder of his salary if it improves the return.
Wait, Bryant’s whole salary would count against the Mets for luxury tax purposes even if they are only paying him for 1/3 of the season? That doesn’t make sense—what is the reason for that strange rule?
Or is that a mistake in the article?
Has to be a mistake. He’s right about the Average annual value being the basis for the CBT calculation but that also gets pro-rated for the amount of time the player has been with the team. So if he spends 60% of the year with the Cubs and 40% with the Mets. The CBT cost should be split 60/40 as well.
I was wondering about that myself. I had never heard of it the way the article described.
Do the Mets even have worth while pitching prospects?
We’ll take PTBN called Kumar
Not allowed.
Lol Kumar is worth more than Bryant
Doesn’t matter if he is or isn’t worth more than Bryant. They’re not allowed to trade him for Bryant. And no, not even as a PTBNL. It’s not “frowned upon.” There aren’t “cash penalties” for doing it. They simply “can’t” trade Rocker. At least not until the offseason begins.
This might be the first MF22 post I agree with.
JT Ginn and Matthew Allen are probably the two highest regarded pitching prospects
Why? They just got everyone back. The lineup is fine. They need to trade for some pitching instead. They don’t have a lot of prospects capital to trade with.
The lineup is not fine, they can’t score with any consistency. Pitching should be the priority only if they can’t land a good deal for a hitter.
How do you know? This is the first time their starting lineup has been healthy this season. Let them play together and see what they can do.
What are the chances their lineup remains healthy the rest of the season?
The Cubs should have traded Bryant the last two seasons. They have very little flexibility at this point. Might as well keep him and let him walk for a comp draft pick in the offseason.
Bryant wasn’t worth anything in 2019 until the service time issue was resolved, and was horrible in 2020. They’ll get more for him now than they would have then.
Cmurphy I understand what you’re saying, but i doubt the package now would be worth more than a comp pick, especially considering the potential size of KB’s next contract…
@Chisoxcity. Your tales are often very bad. That is all.
I bet Larussa would quit drinking for the rest of the year if Hahn promised to get him Bryant.
At least the rest of the day
Cubs made the playoffs last year and came close the year before that.
Bryant for Vientos
I would approve IF Cohen is intending on signing Bryant for 2022 and beyond. Boras makes this much more difficult
If they offer a huge over pay like they did with lindor I bet Boras would be fine.
@YourDreamGM that defeats the purpose of trading for him for NY
@bryan c Signing or not signing Bryant has no bearing on what the Mets should give up for him.
There’s no way he doesn’t at least go to free agency anyway.
Well, point is that Vientos could be the third baseman of the future so if you’re gonna give him up you hope it’s for more than a half season of Bryant. I just wouldn’t do it. I don’t think fans realize just how tight signing Bryant is gonna make the budget. They won’t have much left to fill other needs, cuz Cohen, rich as he is, isn’t gonna run a 280 million dollar payroll.
@Cosmo2 if you don’t think 2 months of Bryant is worth Vientos then don’t trade Vientos.
Right that’s sort of my point. I agree with you but just saying that if they COULD guarantee signing Bryant then trading Vientos would be more acceptable. But they can’t guarantee that so it doesn’t matter, so they shouldn’t. (Plus I don’t want them to sign Bryant anyway. I realize I’m being a bit confusing here.)
Why would the Mets trade Davis for Bryant? Davis is already just as good of a hitter, but he’s far cheaper and has 4 more years of control. Makes zero sense to trade Davis for Bryant and go over the luxury tax threshold at the same time.
I do like Davis but his defense has been awful. It’s certain that would probably be the player the Mets would have to give up to get a player of Bryant’s caliber even as a rental. To keep the Mets under the luxury tax, I’m sure they would ask the Cubs to accept Familia back in return in addition to Davis.
Cubs would easily pay the rest of Bryant’s salary. They are comfortably under the threshold. If it improves their return. They could even throw in Zach Davies and eat the rest of his salary for the right pieces.
What playoff contender wouldn’t want Bryant?
As,Astros,Gigantes… who else? I think he would be an asset to any team.
That would be very ideal for the Cubs ! Some of the laughable rental prices of the years past was bc the bidding among teams for said rentals was so limited often limited to one team
Davis for Bryant seems like a slight over pay for the Mets considering the years of control. Obviously Bryant is the better defender and has more versatility. Is the bat that much better than Davis? I don’t know. If he wasn’t a Boras guy I would like it more. More inclined to do prospects for a rental, outside of the top 8. Quantity over quality like 3 in the 11-20ish range. Bryant surely would add some protection behind Alonso and the lineup shifts to Nimmo, Lindor, Alonso, Bryant which is probably more taxing on a pitcher than Dom Smith in the three. Tough call. If they can do it and still get a Starter I’m in. Prefer a solid rotation piece over any bat, but if they could swing say Gray in addition to Bryant, this would be a power move from Cohen and company
JD DAVIS isn’t going to get it done
Why would it matter if he’s a Boras guy?
Boras plays way too much cat and mouse with his “mystery” teams delaying the signing of some of the bigger names that either A.) hold up other mid tier free agents or B:) make you lose out on other players as you hold back money for your original free agents.
This is why some teams dont even bother dealing for his free agents so they can sign multiple b guys in the time team a waited and probably lost on the a guy to an over pay.
Boras has no say in who Bryant or any other player gets traded to. And signing him or not signing him has no bearing on trading for him.
Completely disagree. If you are only getting a rental and have no plans to sign long term, then you have a max you will give up – it’s not JD Davis or Mark Vientos, and certainly not Mauricio or Baty. If you had a reasonable agent that says they will work with you to sign the player long term should the trade work out, you are more apt to give up a Vientos or Davis knowing you have money and plans to negotiate a fair long term deal. Instead, Boras clouds the vision. He will no doubt ask for a laughable amount – see JT Realmuto – leaving it late in the off season before Bryant commits. As we already saw, the Mets will not wait around for an agent to come back to earth. So in that respect, it makes little sense to hedge here on a bet you can re-sign so the offer ceiling has to be prospects in the 11-20 range. Just my two cents. A couple month rental of a guy that merely saves 4-5 errors and marginally (if that) improves the offense over Davis is not worth anything more.
@bryan c You’re dead wrong bub! No GM gives up more for a rental player because he thinks he’ll be able to sign him. No GM who’s worth anything anyway. You offer whatever you think 2 months of the player is worth. If he does sign with you then that is a separate and irrelevant transaction.
By the way, Scott Boras is not JT Realmuto’s agent.
Everyone relax. It was Jon Heyman reporting. So it was definitely made up. Not saying the Mets dont have interest in KB, but Heyman’s sources live in his basement.
I love when some bonehead with zero facts to back up his dumb opinion pretends that he knows anything about the sources of a respected national journalist that has a long and storied career. What else genius- is the earth flat?
you’re a swell gentleman that must always drink the koolaid.
This dude is a huge clown. Go read up on more COVID crap to spew at everyone. You know, on the baseball website.
@fiasco boy
You may want to give Trevor a call, I think he’s got what you want. Ahahahaha!
All this JD Davis is as good a hitter as Kris Bryant talk is laughable. KB is 1 year older than JD. Look at the stats. Seriously, go compare them. Look at the resumes. 75 points higher on career OPS. More power. Better defensive player, that can play 5 positions. Extremely good base runner. ROY. MVP. Slap yourself if you think JD Davis is as good as Kris Bryant.
3-4(?) yrs of Davis for way less $$ or 1/2 yr of Bryant? I’d rather Davis stay and the Mets go after 1-2 RP arms. The Mets love Bryant, which is what concerns me bc I can see an overpay for him. Nothing in the top 4, but JD + mid-level prospect. The Cubs should love Davis back for the reasons above.
the stats, you are referring to, show Bryant on the decline from his best days while Davis is still improving. He was blocked in Houston and never got a shot until the Mets brought him in and all he has done is hit and with power. Butcher of a glove, but bat very similar to what KB does anymore. We are not talking the 2016 Bryant anymore.
The jays could use KB
Astros get Bryant and Kimbrel for 3 major league ready players (Toro, Chaz, Abreu), a top SP prospect (Whitley or Solomon), and a SS prospect not named León.
That would be one hell of an over pay
Yea that’s nuts
Why would the Mets need Kimbrel at all? They have a closer. Diaz wants to be a closer. Kimbrel wants to be a closer.
I wouldn’t do it unless it was for pennies on the dollar, which it won’t be. Davis has a good bat, he sucks defensively but he’ll be a lot cheaper and is controllable. I like Bryant and his versatility but worry that his bat won’t keep up or he’ll just walk. I don’t think if you’re the Mets that he’s the difference-maker for you and that you should give up too much.
Not sure about that. Right now if you put him in the lineup he’d be the best hitter statistically and the Mets possibly up a couple of more games in the GB column.
Bryant always fought playing multiple positions. He wants to stay at third. He only welcomed multiple positions in his walk year. Once he gets signed he’ll go back to only wanting third.
He’a a prima donna who plays when he wants to. Otherwise he’s “hurt”. I’d much rather have Abreu who connects with his teammates and isn’t soft.
A typical Sox fan trolling job.
The only truth here is “Abreu connects with his teammates and isn’t soft”, but it is off topic.
Personally, I wouldn’t mind seeing him at 3B for the next several years if he continues to produce the way he is this year. Of course signing him will be a task considering Boras is his agent, but I’m sure new ownership would be willing to flex the pen on the checkbook. The infield would be nice.
How about…
Kris Bryant for Matt Allan and Carlos Cortes?
OR…
Kris Bryant and Ismael Mena for PCA?
I really doubt the Mets trade any of their top 100 prospects for Bryant. Maybe vientos, if not you’re looking at Prospects like J.T. Jinn, Carlos Cortes & Jaylen Palmer.
If they won’t someone else will.
Let someone else give up a top prospect for a rental that plays a position they potentially already have covered.
The Mets can move Vientos. He’s expendable between Baty in the syste and McNeil, Lindor in the infield. But they’re not trading Ginn for a few months of Bryant. Maybe Vientos and a lower pitching prospect like Kilome. Though I’d prefer a Kilome/Newton package go the other way. Vientos is too high a prospect for Bryant in 2021 on an expiring contract
Vientos is NOT expendable. He can move to a different position (or be traded for something more permanent). That’s very obtuse, short-sighted thinking on your part. Vientos plus for a rental? That’s just nuts. Way too much.
The cubs shouldnt be touching any Mets top 10 prospects
Matt Allan? That is comical! Not even close. Cortes, sure, along with another middling prospect. Allan is untouchable after stealing him round three because teams were afraid to pay him to keep him away from college.
@bryan c your logic doesn’t follow. The Padres traded Cole Wilcox only 5 months after stealing him in round 3 because other teams were afraid to pay him. And Allan is currently on the mend from TJS. Wilcox was not.
Giants!! Make a move! Don’t break what’s going on there but add to it.. trade a farm or two propects for a bat and relief. No $$ on books next year… get Bryant and kimbrel and let’s get us a title!! Also get or injured guys back 100% healthy
Even joc would of been an upgrade from tauchman
Bryant and these Cubs seem a lot like the Blackhawks team. Won early, and you could see the fire go out of them.
What do you realistically think the cubs should get from the Mets for a few months of a less than superstar quality play in Bryant? I’d offer a middle prospect, maybe 2. None of the top guys.
Bryant has not performed to the level he will be looking to be paid for. He wants a Lindor,Rendon, Harper deal. Bad left shoulder limits his hitting. Coupled with his agent very possibly a Keuchel/Kimbrel or even Arrieta situation. The first two held out only to get smaller deals mid season. Arrieta signed with Phillies for 75 after turning down 130. His original price 175. Mets already have one bad contract why make it two.
It’s not about a big contract. Mets will be renting him until the offseason. Then maybe he’ll get signed there if he performs well. I think he will vastly improve the Mets lineup and defense, and his flexibility makes him an even greater asset. Essentially, he has a chance to play for a big deal.
I can see this happening. Bryant is an upgrade defensively in a lot of positions. Mets don’t need 4 players who can hit, but are subpar fielders. Just makes too much sense. Davis or even McNeil could go.
Cubs need to fire sale and grab prospects for everyone from Bryant to Baez and rebuild for the future.
Bryant to either New York team could net something good or send him West and let the Giants have him.
Everyone on the Major League team should be on the block and sold to the highest bidder!
As a long time Mets fan I am hoping the Mets don’t make a trade for Bryant or if they do they only rent him for a few prospects; just get a 4 or 5th starter and be done.
Cubs get:
Vientos/JT Ginn/Robert Dominguez
Mets get:
Bryant/Chaflin
Cubs won’t trade Bryant for peanuts, makes no sense considering all they have to do is give him a QO that he’s unlikely to sign in the off season and they will get a early Comp pick in next yrs draft…
That’s close. I’d say another minor prospect to Cubs for including Chafin..
That is waaaay too much for a rental and a reliever. Way too much. Just say no. The Mets don’t actually HAVE to trade for Bryant. I mean, they’ve got Davis so what’s the big rush to punt the future?
Right now he will bring back a 2nd Rd prospect if the Cubs keep him. There’s no sense in offering much more than that if you’re paying the rest of his salary and he’s a free agent in a couple of months.
I think another team will offer more. The Mets could always overpay, there system just not appealing enough.
If the Mets have to give up Davis to get a 2nd half rental from Bryant, that’s a HARD pass unless Kyle Hendricks comes with him.
There are 3 things that REALLY bother me about Bryant:
1. How he whined about his service time and then completely failed to produce. He was already a rich man. He is going to become a VERY rich man within 12 months, regardless.
2. He tends to go into ice cold stretches where he is useless with the bat. He’s in one of those now. He regularly seems to go oh-for-10 games or more. Ok, give him 2 singles in there. Point being, when he’s off, he’s a wasted roster spot.
3. Acquiring Bryant means routine sitting for Dom, Davis, Pete, Nimmo or Conforto. Now, if this is just to aid with routine days off, that’s one thing. But playing Bryant and sitting one of the regulars “because the binder says so” is terrible. It also buries Pillar, Villar and Peraza, who have all win multiple games for this team.
Trading for Bryant without also picking up a healthy starting pitcher and/or another reliever in the same deal is a bad move.
What keeps the Mets up top or pads their lead? Healthy starting pitching and consistent bullpen work. It wouldn’t hurt start hitting early in games before the 7th inning (just what are the coaches doing to prepare them?), producing with runners on base and get 5 healthy starters to pitch through the 6th.
Mets need to address the starting pitching first by adding 2 healthy arms so they can skip each starter once a month.
Bryant has a .932 OPS in July. Was garbage in June tho.
I was thinking Bryant would end up with one of Boras’ “mystery teams” specifically the Yankees.