Chicago Cubs: Kris Bryant is traded and the core is no more

In a span of 24 hours, the Chicago Cubs completely dismantled their big league roster, trading the likes of Anthony Rizzo, Ryan Tepera, Javier Baez, Craig Kimbrel and – the last piece – Kris Bryant, sending the 2016 NL MVP to the San Francisco Giants just before the trade deadline on Friday afternoon.

On Thursday afternoon and into the night, we all hurt. Losing Rizzo felt like the end of the world for many Cubs fans. Little did we know the hurt could get so much worse – as losing both Baez and Bryant on Friday proved.

In the deal, the Cubs got the Giants’ #9 and #30 prospects – again we’ll get into the weeds on all this here in a bit – but for now, it’s a matter of just getting you the information.

I think most people expected Chicago to hold onto one of their big three. Kimbrel, we knew, was as good as gone. Once Rizzo went, everyone assumed Baez would stay and Bryant would be on the move. But to see all three gone in less than a day? It hurts.

Bryant turned in a bounceback 2021 campaign after really struggling last season, not only getting back to doing damage at the dish, but playing a staggering six positions this year. This guy was constantly under-appreciated by Cubs fans – and maybe now, those folks will finally see what we had in our former first-rounder.

At this point, I’ve been writing nonstop for days covering the deadline. I’m numb, tired and probably over-caffeinated all at the same time. Expect lots more from me in the coming days, but this is just one of those things I need time to try to come to terms with.

The worst part? We were promised by ownership and the front office this wouldn’t be a rebuild. Well, excuse me but when you turn in a 24-hour stretch like the one we all just witnessed? It’s a rebuild – plain and simple.