Chicago Cubs News: Who should have been traded at their peak?

Should the Cubs consider bringing back Kris Bryant after this season and beyond?

A rookie-of-the-year, MVP winner, and World Series hero all in his first two seasons, Kris Bryant was in a position to take the baseball world by storm all at the age of 24. It was only four years ago, but now fans are frustrated and demanding his trade before he becomes a free agent in 2022.

Since making the final out in the 2016 fall classic, Bryant has not had a season with more than 77 RBI and has eclipsed the 30 home run mark just once while getting injured in that span.

The soon-to-be free agent will be demanding a big contract, with the notorious Scott Boras leading the negotiations. This has led to many trade rumors over the past few years, including a swap for Rockies’ third baseman Nolan Arenado who already has a long-term contract in place (8 yrs/$260mil) through 2026.

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If Bryant continues struggling, I could not imagine teams will be lined up with their best offers because they know they will have the advantage over the Cubs, who would not want to let KB walk away without getting a return.

Here is a look at Bryant’s statistics since his rookie-debut:

2015: (151 games) .275 BA .858 OPS 26 HR 99 RBI-Rookie of the Year

2016: (155 games) .292 BA .939 OPS 39 HR 102 RBI-NL Most Valuable Player

2017: (151 games) .295 BA .946 OPS 29 HR 73 RBI

2018: (102 games) .272 BA .834 OPS 13 HR 52 RBI

2019: (147 games) .282 BA .903 OPS 31 HR 77 RBI

2020: (25 games) .208 BA .616 OPS 2 HR 4 RBI

Before this season, the Cubs could have gotten whatever they wanted for Bryant. Despite his low RBI-totals, he still held a high-upside and had a few years remaining on his team-friendly contract.

Now the team is left with a player who cannot seem to stay healthy, or at least that is what it appears from the outside. His latest game missed was due to getting hit by a pitch on his arm, and before that, he was placed on the 10-day IL with a sprained finger.

This is purely speculation, but unless he physically cannot play through these injuries. I would not be surprised if Boras is whispering in Bryant’s ear, advising him to sit-out these games and not risk further injury with his contract year coming up.

As a fan, it is easy to get frustrated, but we have to remember everything Bryant has done for the franchise. The Cubs simply do not win the World Series in 2016 without him. I am not just talking about making the final out, but he had several clutch moments leading up to that. The game-tying home run off Trevor Bauer in game five when the Cubs trailed 3-1 in that series is just one, to name a few.

Taking the weight of a franchise on your shoulders, mind you with a 100+ year championship drought, is a pretty daunting task at such a young age a lot of us probably could not handle–yet Bryant was able to contribute in a big way.

It is sickening to think of Epstein settling for a poor deal just for someone to take Bryant off his hands. I would instead take the risk of paying him if it is not a lucrative deal and hoping he can get back to the exciting player he was not too long ago.

We have waited this long, so if Bryant is traded, it better be for something pretty darn good in return.

Are the Cubs better off holding onto Kyle Schwarber rather than trading him?

There was once a time I believed Schwarber would be the best of all the prospects in the Cubs’ farm system. With a swing that is short and quick to the ball, yet still vicious, it was something not many had seen before. Unfortunately, the league figured out how to pitch to Schwarbs, and now we are here discussing how he should have been traded at his peak.

The raw-power of Schwarber was on full display his rookie year when he blasted a ball on top of the right-field scoreboard in game four of the NLDS against the Cardinals. The following season, he tore his ACL in the first week of the season, but returned in the World Series and put on a hero’s worthy performance: 20 PA .412 BA .971 OPS

Since then, Schwarber has still shown his power, but has struggled to find consistency at the plate:

2015: (69 games) .246 BA .842 OPS 16 HR 43 RBI

2016: Torn ACL-Missed 160 games in the regular season

2017: (129 games) .211 BA .782 OPS 30 HR 59 RBI

2018: (137 games) .238 BA .823 OPS 26 HR 61 RBI

2019: (155 games) .250 BA .871 OPS 38 HR 92 RBI

2020: (45 games) .203 BA .742 OPS 10 HR 21 RBI

Now Epstein is left in a tough spot with his slugger. Up to this point, Schwarber has shown he will likely not be a high-average hitter in the league, but his ability to hit the long-ball still leaves him with some promise.

Perhaps the biggest concern with Schwarber is his ability to drive in runs. In his career, the outfielder has struggled with runners in scoring position: 480 PA .201 BA .770 OPS 147 RBI.

Like Bryant, I believe Schwharber would have had the most value in a trade prior to this season. There was inconsistency at the plate, but a friendly contract and still more than enough value in his bat for teams to take a gamble on–specifically an AL team who would use him as a designated hitter.

Epstein might reconsider dealing Schwarber if the DH position is made permanent in the National League. After posting the best numbers of his career last season, Schwarber has regressed so far in the 2020 season. It would be hard to imagine the Cubs getting much in return for a struggling slugger with one year remaining before he hits free agency in 2022.

It is head-scratching to see how players like Schwarber and Bryant had lost so much value when not so long ago they were considered some of the best in baseball. As we have heard all season, this run could be the last dance for the Cubs’ core who broke the 108 year World Series drought.

Regardless of what happens soon, as fans, we should not take what they did for this franchise for granted.