Cubs News: Considering options to replace an injured Kris Bryant

Chicago Cubs: What’s really going on with Bryant?

Back to Bryant though, this injury brings up a couple questions and shines the spotlight on some issues. Number one being that the Cubs haven’t exactly used the IL to their advantage with Bryant or others over the past couple years, as they’ve let guys linger on the bench to try and rest when they probably should have just been put on the IL earlier so as to allow another man to fill that lost spot.

Another issue is that some of these minor issues seem to be lingering for Cubs players, specifically Bryant. For whatever reason, Bryant seems to have the luck of Wile E. Coyote the last several seasons, dealing with shoulder, hand, and wrist injuries that have derailed more than one campaign. This particular injury was specified as a “left ring-finger sprain and left wrist issue.” While the finger should heal given time and be something Bryant could play through, the wrist is particularly troubling.

With the way Bryant has seemed to drag his bat through the zone and be overmatched by even mediocre velocity, it’s not surprising that that front wrist is an issue. If it’s only 50-75 percent right now, that could be sapping almost all power and bat speed in a game where your wrists, forearms, and hands are of the utmost importance.

Everyone watching the Cubs over the last five years has seen Bryant hit and knows the power, eye, base-running, and flexibility the 2016 MVP can offer when healthy. They also have seen Bryant when he’s not at the height of his powers. Alas, it seems like forever ago when we last saw the newly-minted dad at 100 percent.

Chicago Cubs: How to replace a one-time MVP?

The last and most pressing issue for the Cubs in the midst of a 60 game season is this though: what are they going to do if this lingers and how do you replace a guy like Bryant in the lineup?

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So far, it hasn’t been all that pretty, but it seems the entire offense is in an extended slump with or without Bryant. Does this call for a trade to address this issue and the possibility Bryant may be out or affected for a much longer period of time than 10 days?

Internally, Bote and Nico Hoerner are the best options to man the hot corner, where they can both provide similar defense to Bryant. But, at the plate, both leave something to be desired, although they’re both patient and work good at bats. In the short term, internal works just fine; however, if Bryant is going to be less than 100 percent all year, normal circumstances might prompt the Cubs to target someone outside of the organization.

The problem with that is, who do you acquire and how much is it going to cost for a cash-strapped team who many assumed had to cut salary to get under the luxury tax threshold rather than adding big at the deadline?

Chicago Cubs: Teaming up Lindor and Baez would be a (pipe) dream come true

I’ve been a proponent of someone like Sheldon Neuse of the A’s before, but we’re not sure he would give the Cubs any more than what they already have internally. In addition, he would require the Cubs to trade someone(s) more substantial than the organization would probably be willing to let go of at this point.

Along those same lines but on an even bigger scale, Francisco Lindor would be the kind of move and infusion of talent that could be just what the doctor ordered right now for this Cubs team – but he’s going to cost too much both in prospects and salary. If it were a normal year, it might be a bit more of a possibility, but this is probably beyond pie in the sky at this point.

Then again, maybe the Cubs could go all in on the present and future by trying for a Cleveland package including disgraced pitchers Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac, as well as Lindor? That might not be all that difficult to swing with the Indians considering how the organization reacted to their extracurricular activities during a pandemic and Lindor’s seeming desire to test the open market. However, it also would mean the most battened-down team in the league regarding the coronavirus would welcome two not so battened-down youngsters.

After that, most third basemen who would be upgrades for the Cubs are either in long-term deals or wouldn’t be available without paying a king’s ransom in return. Then again, there’s always that potential deal with Colorado that could send Nolan Arenado to the North Side… guess we’ll just have to see how aggressive Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer are over the next week and if Bryant can return to form.

Regardless, the Cubs internal options can hold down the fort for a few more days until the club can see what rest did for Bryant’s ailments. If he comes back to 80-90%, this might be something he and the Cubs can fight through. Let’s hope that’s the case.