Chicago Cubs: These three teams could be ready to trade for Kris Bryant

Cubs: If Yankees added Kris Bryant, it would be a major upgrade

Like their west coast rivals, the New York Yankees are no strangers to blockbuster trades and taking risks on star players in the league. The past few weeks have linked the Cubs and Yankees to possible trade scenarios and Kris Bryant’s name could be added to that list as well.

For the last two seasons, the Bronx Bombers have gone with a cheap, yet reliable option at third base in Gio Urshela. The 28-year-old blossomed late in his career, but has over exceeded expectations in two seasons at the hot-corner in New York (175 games: .310 BA 27 HR 104 RBI .881 OPS).

So why would New York pass on another year of Urshela for a more expensive risk in Bryant? Postseason production.  Urshela is a career .205 hitter in 21 postseason games, and while Bryant hasn’t exactly been great the past few playoff-runs for the Cubs, his championship pedigree and experience might be something the Yankees take a gamble on.

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Urshela is certainly a solid option on any roster, but it’s safe to say we know what his ceiling is at the big league level. I could be wrong and Urshela could be greater down the road, but I will still argue Bryant has more potential and could add more thunder to an already powerful lineup. Given a possible parting of ways with reigning AL Batting Champ DJ LeMahieu, the Yankees will need to plug in a few holes at the infield position.

The Cubs acquiring outfielder Clint Frazier from the Yankees in a deal with Bryant might be too good to be true given the decline in Bryant’s production. If New York is still marketing their young outfielder, they would likely demand some sort of package deal in return which the Cubs still might be able to pull off.

Two young right-handed pitchers the Yankees might be willing to give up for less of a return are Deivi Garcia and Clarke Schmidt, though neither showed dominance while getting their feet wet in the big leagues last season.

Deivi Garcia 2020 stats: (6 starts: 3-2) 4.98 ERA 34.1 IP 35 H 6 BB 33 SO

Clarke Schmidt 2020 stats: 6.1 IP 7.11 ERA 7 H 5 BB 7 SO

It’s hard to imagine the Yankees resorting to cheap options when they consider themselves a championship contender every season. If this is the case, New York could be the place Kris Bryant ends up this offseason.