Chicago Cubs: Think twice before you trade Kris Bryant this offseason

Chicago Cubs: Don’t be a fool – Bryant is a tremendous player

The takes on Cubs Twitter this winter have been… well, they’ve been something else. It’s hard to take a lot of folks seriously given the opinions that are being cast about so nonchalantly. So, whether you like to admit it or not, here’s one for you: Kris Bryant is a great player.

Patrick Mooney of The Athletic (subscription required) offered up this nugget in his latest – which really puts things in perspective when it comes to just how good Bryant has been in a Cubs uniform:

… this is the entire list of hitters who have posted a higher combined WAR than Bryant (27.8) across the last five seasons, according to FanGraphs: Mike Trout (44.2) and Mookie Betts (35.4).

That’s it. That’s the list. Betts, of course, has been the focus in Boston for years – but this winter, for a different reason. With a new front office in place, the Red Sox seem to be following a similar map as the Cubs: get under the luxury tax threshold, no matter what. A Betts trade would undoubtedly help the club do so as he pulled in a record $27 million in his final year of arbitration.

Trout is the best player to ever step on a ball field. Simple as that. Mentioning him with any other player in the game today is silly because the gap between Trout and the rest of the league, simply put, is that tremendous.

So to mention Bryant in the same breath as these guys is telling. Injuries have knocked the former MVP and Rookie of the Year a bit off track in the last couple of years, but if he can stay healthy in 2020, he could be the differrence-maker the Cubs so desperately need under first-year manager David Ross.

Chicago Cubs: Bryant poised to put up big numbers this year

Since following up that Rookie of the Year showing in 2015 with a World Series ring and National League MVP honors in 2016, there’s been a perceived drop-off in Bryant’s numbers – at least with many fans.

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Fro 2015-2016, the former first-rounder averaged 32 home runs, 111 RBI, 33 doubles, 104 runs and a .284/.377/.522 slash line. That all equates to a 141 OPS+. From 2017-2019, where injuries played a huge role in his performance, he averaged 24 home runs, 67 RBI, 34 doubles, 93 runs and a 284/.390/.511 line. That’s still good for a 133 OPS+.

If you look at these admittedly high-level numbers, Bryant hasn’t been that bad – not even close. He’s getting on base nearly 40 percent of the time and he’s averaging more doubles than he did in his first two years. The biggest problem? He’s not driving in runs. Why? Because he’s been hitting in the two spot – and the Cubs have lacked any semblance of a leadoff hitter since, you guessed it, 2017.

Steamers projects Bryant to have another excellent campaign in 2020. Here’s how it looks:

• 150 G / 12.1% BB rate/ 31 home runs / 108 runs / .377 OBP

Despite some around the game complaining about Bryant’s defensive limitations, we’re talking about a well above average offensive player, capable of playing multiple positions, including both corner infield and outfield spots. Wonder why the Cubs have a reportedly astronomical asking price in talks for Bryant? That’s why.

If the Cubs move on from their slugging third baseman, it means they got an offer they couldn’t refuse. Otherwise, Epstein is intelligent enough to understand the type of talent he’s got on his hands and what it could mean for his club – regardless of whether or not they’re able to extend Bryant past 2021.