21/04/2020
With speculation rising, the perfect landing spot for the KB and the Cubs.
Over the last several days Cub nation has been in a frenzy over the future regarding the team and start third baseman Kris Bryant. GM Neil Ferris has been quiet over the whole situation, while Bryant has started to express his "frustration" publicly to reporters. Ferris may be a young GM, but we do know that he hates when players make internal operations a "public spectacle". With the Rangers, Ferris would often recommend players for call-ups based on how they handle situations and the media.
We all know that KB wants the full, max deal from the Cubs. We also know that Ferris is unwilling to give him this because he believes the best way to win is to take all that money and split it up over several pieces needed to win. There are supporters and critics of both decisions, but as a team writer it seems to me that this relationship between Bryant and the Cubs may be coming to a close. Ferris will not let Bryant go for nothing however, which means that a trade is looming in the future, and in the near future. Ferris and his staff are not going to allow Bryant to create a distraction in the club house as the season starts. Now, there is time for the two sides to discuss options and to smooth things out, the two sides are reportedly scheduled to have a meeting in the next couple of days to discuss the future. However, today I wanted to explore the three places I could see the Cubs trading Bryant and why these places make the most sense to me.
#3-Colorado Rockies
Neil Ferris has proven that he is not afraid to trade multiple pieces in order to get multiple pieces back. The compelling story here would be Bryant for Arrenado. Arrenado is a far better defender at third than Bryant and is just as good of a bat if not better. The Rockies have the money to offer Bryant the full max deal after this season and Arrenado has expressed his own displeasure with the Rockies front office. This could be a match made in heaven as both teams are upset with their players and how they are handling the situation. The question is, will Arrenado be willing to negotiate with the Cubs for the 26 million a year they offered KB. Arrenado is also about 2 years older than Bryant, which puts him closer to the end of his prime. Now, outside of this the Rockies have all the other pieces the Cubs want. We all know the Cubs want to add another solid pitcher and the Rockies have several of those. Ferris showed a lot of interest in Rockies starter Kyle Freeland at the winter meetings and he would definitely target him in this deal. The other thing the Cubs have shown they want to do is get younger. Both Ferris and Maddon have expressed getting younger for the future. Maddon has multiple times expressed his liking to young infielder Garret Hampson. Ferris has also told of how badly he wanted to draft infielder Brendan Rodgers. Both of these young infielders would fit in perfectly at second base for the Cubs in the near future. The Arrenado aspect of this deal lessens the likeliness for me, which brings them in at number three.
#2-Texas Rangers
Ironically enough, the team at number two is the team that Ferris worked for the last 5 seasons. Ferris and the Rangers front staff have a great relationship and would be willing to work out a long complicated deal that would benefit both teams. Bryant would be a GREAT addition to a lineup that needs another star to go alongside Joey Gallo. Ferris also have in-depth knowledge of the prospects and which ones he feels would be most successful. We know that Ferris has talked highly of top prospect Josh Jung, and I would think that he would be a must in any deal with the Rangers. I could also see him asking for Sam Huff at catcher so that Bote could play his natural position of third for the foreseeable future. The perfect deal I would think would also include Patrick Wisdom who Ferris was instrumental in helping acquire from the Rangers. Wisdom can play multiple positions, has a great upside, and has a nice power bat that could benefit the Cubs tremendously. As for starting pitching, I think the Cubs would be interested in Lance Lynn. Lynn is a veteran and was a beast in the Central for years with Cardinals, and I know Ferris feels he has one or two more dominate years left in him. Lynn will be the deal breaker for the Cubs if they don't feel Lynn is a dominate enough arm to improve their rotation. But, don't be surprised is the Cubs make a deal with Rangers.
#1-Boston Red Sox
This all makes sense. First, lets start with the obvious. The Red Sox will be willing to pay Bryant whatever he wants and cover the cost to make it happen. Bryant would go to another contending team and imagine that lineup..... Now, for the other side of this deal. Pitching, Ferris has expressed how much he loves Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi. It is rumored Ferris was in serious discussions with the Red Sox most of the winter regarding Eovaldi. Eovaldi is still fairly young, has late bloomer potential like Arrietta, and Eovaldi has proven to be valuable to every team he's played for. The second part of this deal is just as perfect. Rafael Devers. The Cubs not only get a third baseman, but how about a third baseman who is only 22 years old, and whose best days are still ahead of him? A player like that is extremely appealing to the Red Sox and I would expect they would love the potential that Devers brings. Another great addition to this deal would be pitcher Bryan Mata, who has shown potential both as a starter and reliever. While a deal with the Red Sox would provide a few years of learning curves, I think it benefits the Cubs the most down the line.
While all this is speculation and there is so much up in the air, these are just some of the places I could see a deal taking place. But, something else I know after the surprise trade of Russel to the Braves, is that with Ferris at the helm anything can happen.
