Cubs Rumors: A Kris Bryant for Starlin Castro trade? Come on.

The latest Kris Bryant trade rumor involves former Cubs infielder Starlin Castro.

For quite some time now, we’ve heard many trade rumors involving Kris Bryant and the Chicago Cubs with some being realistic, and others not so much. The latest team who is said to be a potential trade partner for the former MVP is the Washington Nationals, who are in need of a third baseman and have the high-level prospects and MLB-ready talent to make a deal happen.

However, one name on Washington linked to a Bryant trade isn’t in their farm system, or young in baseball terms. In fact, he happens to be a Cub-prospect from once upon a time: Starlin Castro.

That’s right, this is what the Kris Bryant trade rumors saga has come to. MLB Network analysts Mike Ferrin and Jim Duquette have floated the idea that a Bryant-Castro swap “makes sense”.

Let me start off by saying yes, I think it does make sense for what Bryant’s value might be worth at this very moment. That being said, I don’t believe Jed Hoyer and the Cubs should sell Bryant at his lowest point. The team will reportedly offer a tender contract to Bryant before Wednesday’s deadline. They’re better off hanging onto Bryant and maybe a few other core players with the hopes they can turn it around, or trade them at the deadline next season where a contender is willing to offer more value in return.

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It’s nothing against Castro, in fact I wouldn’t mind if the team found a way to reunite with their former infielder, but not at this type of expense. The 30-year-old is set to make $7 million next year and will become a free agent in 2022. Castro played in just 16 games after breaking his wrist this past season.

Castro career stats: (1486 games) .280/.319/.414 135 HR 640 RBI .733 OPS

Going back to what Ferrin asked on his radio show, “Is this the best they [the Cubs] can do?” in terms of a return for trading Kris Bryant. As of today maybe, but I think it’s a little dramatic.

Bryant definitely stunk-up the stat sheet last season, but it happens. Players have down years, and an injury filled 60-game season in the midst of a global pandemic seems like a small sample size to judge the rest of a player’s career, maybe not, but that’s just my thoughts. In my opinion, it’s asinine to assume a soon-to-be 29-year-old Kris Bryant has his best playing days behind him so the Cubs should trade him ASAP.

I think Hoyer and the Cubs are of the same mindset for Bryant and some of the other core players on the team. Unless they are getting what they believe is the max potential in terms of return value, the best option is to hold off on any trades, at least until next season’s deadline.