Making the case for and against the Cubs trading each of their young stars
Kris Bryant
If the Cubs are serious about retooling this winter via the trade market, it could create a historic offseason for Major League Baseball. There may be four MVP candidates on the trade block, with Francisco Lindor and Mookie Betts also made available by their respective teams. The Cubs won’t trade both of their MVP candidates, Kris Bryant and Javy Baez, but dealing one could set them up with enough prospects to launch themselves right back into the World Series.
Few players have had a better first five years to their MLB careers than Bryant. He won the Rookie of the Year in 2015 and led his team to the World Series in 2016 while winning MVP. The 27-year-old has been incredibly polished on all fronts and has set himself up for a huge payday after the 2021 season. There is unlikely to be a reunion for the Scott Boras client, who has field a grievance with the league over how the Cubs manipulated his service time at the start of his rookie year.
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Bryant is essentially a set-it-and-forget it superstar. He doesn’t deliver a ton of highlight reel plays, but you know come September he will have racked up close to 40 doubles, 30-40 home runs, a solid RBI total and close to 100 walks. He is unlikely to lead the league in a major offensive category like home runs or batting average, but Bryant has what it takes to serve as the keystone to any good lineup.
It’s still impossible to predict how this winter’s trade frenzy will shake out because it is unprecedented to have so many young superstars on the trade block. Every contender with a deep farm system will line up to trade for Bryant if he is truly available.
Losing him, however, would almost guarantee the Cubs will not win a World Series within the next three years. If the Cubs decide to favor keeping Schwarber, then it does make more sense to part with Bryant now.