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

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.