Cubs need to unload these two contracts to right the ship financially

Chicago Cubs: Bryant’s contract could be dead weight for the team

Kris Bryant is one of the biggest names on the Cubs, and his future with the organization remains a mystery. Will he be traded? Will the team find the means to extend him? At this point, it is anyone’s guess. However, what is certain is that Bryant is enjoying the fruits of his early seasons in the league – performances which he’s failed to live up to of late.

The former NL Rookie of the Year, NL MVP and three-time All Star has left an indelible mark on the North Siders over his six years with the team. In 2018, he slashed .272/.374/.460 with 13 home runs and 52 RBI. This is not the best Bryant has played in the slightest, but his 2020 numbers were unrecognizable. In 2020, Bryant turned in a .206/.293/.351 slash line across the 34 games he appeared in during the abbreviated season.

Since the esteemed 28-year-old third baseman did not play up to par, I think the Cubs to try to trade Bryant to get rid of the brevity of his contract that is impacting payroll. The former first-rounder has an impressive track record that would undoubtedly make him a hot commodity on the trade market.

Bryant is under team control for one more year.  If the Cubs don’t trade him this winter, his early 2021 performance could either further diminish his value or help him regain value ahead of the trade deadline.