Chicago Cubs: Kris Bryant will be traded to one of these five teams

Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies have reportedly talked about a trade

Wednesday was busy for those of us who follow the Cubs. Not only did we get the news about Bryant’s service time grievance, but we also got several other reports pertaining to the Colorado Rockies, their superstar third baseman Nolan Arenado and a potential deal with Chicago.

Here’s the current landscape, according to Jesse Rogers, who appeared on 1000 AM on Wednesday.

“This is something I heard very recently. That, yes, Arenado would love to play for the Cubs, Iagree with Jeff [Passan] on that,” Rogers said. “I’ll go one step further. That they’ve even discussed a one-for-one deal, Kris Bryant for Nolan Arenado, where the Rockies pick up a good portion of Arenado’s salary over the length of the contract. I’m talking $7 or $8 million per year.

Woo, boy. Alrighty then.

Personally, it’s hard to imagine this working straight-up. Arenado makes $35 million in each of the next five years, followed by another $59 million at the tail end of the deal. That shouldn’t detract a big market team like Chicago if not for one little thing. The Cubs are hell-bent on getting under the $208 million competitive balance tax threshold by Opening Day.

Bryant will make $18.6 million in his next-to-last arbitration season – leaving roughly a $16 million gap between his salary and Arenado’s. Even if Colorado ate the $7-8 million Rogers noted in his interview, that still pushes the payroll in the wrong direction.

I’m not saying the Cubs and Rockies can’t get together and make something happen – but it would take corresponding moves or additional pieces included in the deal.

Chicago Cubs: The Dodgers make sense as a perfect trade partner

Despite running roughshod over the rest of the National League West for the better part of a decade, the Los Angeles Dodgers are still chasing their first title since 1988. Andrew Friedman has created a world-class organization – one that’s not handcuffed by payroll considerations and enjoys a perennial pipeline of young talent.

With tens of millions of dollars at his disposal without coming close to hitting the CBT in 2020 (Spotrac estimates Los Angeles has some $33 million left before eclipsing the $208 million mark) – adding Bryant and his sizable contract is very doable.

Not only do they have the money, but they have a glaring need for an impact right-handed bat. Enter Bryant who not only gives the left-handed-heavy Dodgers club some pop from the right side, but he also fits manager Dave Roberts‘ mix-and-match philosophy given his ability to play multiple positions.

For the Cubs, the Dodgers – at least for me personally – are the ideal trade partner. Their system is dripping with talent, even if you consider the likes of Gavin Lux untouchable in any trade, as LA surely does.

We’re talking about guys like Dustin May, Josiah Gray, Jeter Downs and others who could come back to Chicago in a deal – not to mention the young players already on the big league roster. Watching Bryant help the Dodgers win a title (or two) wouldn’t be easy, but sinking our teeth into this organization’s talent pool would make it well worth it.

Chicago Cubs: Is Bryant who can put the Braves over the top?

Last season, the Atlanta Braves’ young nucleus erupted – culminating in a National League East crown. Ronald Acuna Jr. narrowly missed joining the exclusive 40-40 club, Freddie Freeman turned in another elite campaign and Josh Donaldson made it rain at SunTrust Park.

All of that, paired with some breakout pitching performances, weren’t enough though, as the Braves fell in the NLDS that ended in an absolutely brutal Game 5 blowout at the hand of the St. Louis Cardinals. Donaldson left in free agency, joining the Minnesota Twins – leaving a hole in the Atlanta roster in the process.

Right now, the Braves are set to roll the dice with Johan Camargo and Austin Riley. That’s not a particularly formidable duo, although they certainly have the potential to get the job done.

But if you add Bryant to this lineup and slot him in at third, this is one of the best lineups in all of baseball. Like Los Angeles, the Braves aren’t in danger of hitting the luxury tax; but they’ve already added roughly $30 million over their Opening Day 2019 figure. With a record-level payroll already in tow, it’s hard to know how much more money is available.

Bryant makes Atlanta a much stronger club, but it would take both sides exchanging some money – likely with a veteran attached to prospects coming back to Chicago – to make it work. Never say never though. Stranger things have happened, that’s for sure.

Chicago Cubs: Can Epstein slam the door on Boston’s Betts hopes?

Look, we know the Boston Red Sox are in a similar situation as the Cubs – they want to reset and get under the luxury tax threshold by Opening Day. To do so, they’ve been exploring trading former AL MVP Mookie Betts – most recently being connected with the San Diego Padres. 

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As the two sides figure out how to make a deal work – one where Boston sheds payroll along with a player they don’t seem to believe they can re-sign at season’s end and San Diego gets a dynamic offensive presence in the outfield, and opportunity is brewing.

With Bryant’s service time grievance in the rearview mirror – Theo Epstein can strike. He can offer what Boston can’t, two years of control over a former MVP. That extra year of team control allows the Cubs to demand more, whereas the Padres have ruled out their top prospects in talks with the Red Sox.

Now, I know what you’re thinking – Bryant is a third baseman, not an outfielder. I’d personally argue that he could have a future at either, lending further versatility to the Padres roster. If San Diego wants to win – and not simply bet it all on 2020 like they’d be doing with Betts, a trade for Bryant makes a lot more sense.

Chicago Cubs: Nats could go big in hopes of repeating as champs

How do you follow up winning the first World Series championship in franchise history? By winning another one, of course.

The Washington Nationals made history, topping the since-tarnished Houston Astros in the World Series behind dominant pitching and the dynamic Juan Soto leading the charge offensively. After re-signing Stephen Strasburg and adding some key pieces earlier in the offseason, a blockbuster for Bryant would set the Nats up for another run in 2020.

Washington missed out in the Donaldson sweepstakes – and their additions to this point aren’t in the same class as someone like him or Bryant. If you slotted KB in alongside Soto in the middle of the Nationals order and trotted out the three-headed monster of Strasburg, Max Scherzer and Patrick Corbin, you’d feel pretty good about your chances.

After months of inactivity and, frankly, boredom, Cubs fans could be facing a sprint to the finish of the offseason. Expect to get bombarded with rumors regarding Bryant – and perhaps even other Chicago centerpieces – in the coming weeks as teams look to put their final touches on rosters heading into Spring Training.