Chicago Cubs: Latest Kris Bryant trade rumors aren’t so bad

Chicago Cubs: It begins with a top three prospect

Gauging Bryant’s value is a three-pipe problem. Bryant is on a one-year/$18.6 million contract for 2020 and is set to hit his fourth and final year of arbitration before hitting free agency in 2022. What that means for clubs who value Bryant is there is a higher likelihood fewer teams will be involved, and the return will be smaller.

The Braves will not part with top prospect Christian Pache. However, their third-ranked prospect Drew Waters should be on the table as the starting point of any deal. Waters brings a five-tool profile and the ability to hit from both sides of the dish. Waters is only 21 years old and has already reached Triple-A Gwinnett.

Most of his time last season was spent at Double-A Mississippi. In 109 games, Waters slashed a resounding .319/.366/.481, five home runs, 41 RBI, 13 stolen bases. Impressively, Waters posted a .162 ISO and a 144 wRC+.

He was promoted to Gwinnett for 26 games at the end of the season. There, Waters hit .271/.336/.374 and posted a reasonable 84 wRC+. In his first stint at a higher level, Waters held his own. Waters is the quintessential start to a package for Bryant.

He would immediately be an upgrade in center field as he did not make a single error across 336 innings between the two levels and he would be under team control for a long time. Waters would be an excellent addition for a team in a sort of rebuild.