Chicago Cubs: Mookie Betts trade may foreshadow a Kris Bryant deal

Chicago Cubs: Betts deal probably worries Cubs fans

Watching Boston deal the face of their franchise after seeing multiple rounds of contract extension talks go absolutely nowhere. It came down to a hard truth: either trade Betts now and get some long-term value and much-needed payroll relief or watch him walk with next to nothing.

Simply put, Chaim Bloom could not let the latter scenario come to fruition, no matter the pain such a move causes Red Sox fans in the meantime. Owner John Henry opened the offseason talking about a mandate to get under the $208 million luxury tax threshold – and Bloom has delivered, dropping the massive contracts of Betts and Price.

Does all of this sound familiar? An official, but unofficial mandate from above to get below a certain number and the belief that trading a star player is the only way to do it? It should because it’s driven the Cubs’ entire offseason to this point.

Instead of Betts, it’s Bryant who, with his service time grievance settled, heads into the 2020 campaign making $18.6 million in arbitration with two years of team control remaining. The Betts trade doesn’t line up perfectly with the Cubs’ current situation. But there are certainly similarities between the two scenarios – enough so that it warrants discussing a bit further.

Chicago Cubs could go several different directions in a Bryant trade

Let’s be honest. Kris Bryant is not Mookie Betts. That being said, he’s capable of playing at a very high level – worthy of being mentioned among the most talented players in the game.

Injuries have changed the perception of Bryant around the league since he won National League MVP honors in 2016. According to David Kaplan of NBC Sports Chicago, ‘people around the game aren’t as high on Kris Bryant as fans and the media might be.’

Now, whether or not you’re buying that thinking or believe it – you have to consider the impact it could have on a potential trade. Chicago will have to decide what to prioritize: the return in a Bryant deal or shedding the most payroll possible.

Theo Epstein could hold onto Bryant, hoping he comes tearing out of the gate and raising his value – then look to trade him at the deadline in July. He could turn to one of several NL East teams reportedly interested in his services in the next week and see what he could get, as well.

Or if he takes the Bloom course of action, he could attach a Jason Heyward to a deal and shed a massive amount of payroll while receiving less in return. There’s no telling which way Epstein will go, but attaching another contract to the former MVP in a trade will likely receive the same reaction the Betts deal got in Boston: muted disappointment and anger over what many perceive as a cost-cutting measure that sacrifices the team’s postseason chances.