Kris Bryant’s free agency timeline is now clear and these five teams should be ready to engage the Cubs in trade talks.
As expected, Kris Bryant lost his service time grievance against the Chicago Cubs this week. Service time manipulation seems clear but is also hard to prove, as teams take advantage of a system that allows them to postpone a top prospect’s major league debut just long enough to get an extra year of club control.
In Bryant’s case, his major league debut came on April 17, 2015. If he been called up a day earlier, he would had 172 days of service time and been credited for a full year. He has become the most super of “Super Twos,” with six years and 171 days of service time when the 2021 season ends.
So Bryant is under team control for two more seasons as was first assumed, rather than one as he was fighting for. The Cubs have not done much this offseason, in concert with the idea they want to shed some payroll. There haven’t seemed to be any contract extension talks with Bryant, further adding to trade speculation regarding the former Rookie of the Year and NL MVP.
Now that his free agency timeline is clear, these five teams should be in on any trade talks regarding Bryant before Opening Day.
5. Philadelphia Phillies
Phillies owner John Middleton has declared a willingness to spend stupid money in free agency, and the hiring of Joe Girardi as manager pushes a credible win-now mentality.
The Phillies may have to part with top prospect third baseman Alex Bohm in a deal for Bryant, but according to R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports, executives from around the league believe they would do so. Projected starting center fielder Adam Haseley is also a possible trade chip, even if that would create a theoretical left-to-right outfield of Bryant, Andrew McCutchen (coming off a torn ACL) and Bryce Harper.
Jean Segura has been moved off shortstop with the signing of Didi Gregorius. If Bryant were acquired to take over third base, Scott Kingery could move to second base. In a musical chairs that would be set off by getting Bryant, Segura may find himself on another team (maybe even the Cubs in the deal for Bryant?).
As much as he has control over where he’s traded, if he’s traded, Bryant may like the idea of playing with childhood friend Harper in Philadelphia.
4. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers have had a pretty quiet offseason, though not necessarily for lack of effort as they fell short on the periphery of the conversation regarding some of the biggest free agents. Now they’ve turned toward the trade market to try to acquire a star, with Mookie Betts, Francisco Lindor and even Nolan Arenado perhaps in play. On the Betts front, the Dodgers reportedly “remain engaged” with the Red Sox as one of the top current suitors.
But with Bryant theoretically available as well, and perhaps even more so now that his timeline to hit free agency is confirmed, might the Dodgers part with some prospects and/or some major league level talent to get him? With a top farm system and depth in the big leagues that has fostered a long run of success, the Dodgers are uniquely positioned to pull the trigger on a big trade.
The bottom line is Los Angeles has not won a World Series since 1988. It’s time to get over the hump, and cash in some significant future pieces for short-term impact if there are legit options out there. At minimum, if he wasn’t already, Bryant should now be on their radar.
3. Washington Nationals
Back in early-to-mid December, as they faced losing Anthony Rendon, Jon Morosi of MLB.com reported the Nationals had inquired about Bryant. How far talks got then is unclear, but it’s easy to see a re-engagement from Washington’s end now.
After also missing on Josh Donaldson, the Nationals have addressed their infield needs with a volume approach, signing Starlin Castro and Eric Thames while bringing back Howie Kendrick, Asdrubal Cabrera and Ryan Zimmerman. Cabrera is currently penciled in as the starting third baseman.
The questions regarding Washington are what they’d be willing give up for Bryant and how willingly ownership is to take on more money over at least the next two seasons. The Cubs may want Victor Robles as the centerpiece and starting point in a trade, and no one would blame the Nationals if they balked at including the young center fielder. Top prospect infielder Carter Kiefboom would also surely be of some interest to Chicago.
The Nationals may be able to make another deep postseason run this year as currently constructed. But Bryant is a far more comparable replacement for Rendon at third base, and if general manager Mike Rizzo has a second chance to engage the Cubs he should jump at it.
2. Texas Rangers
The Rangers made moves to address their starting rotation this offseason, and they’ve been a rumored trade suitor for Nolan Arenado if the Colorado Rockies are so inclined to move him. The lack of production they got from third base last year was striking, and the underrated signing of Todd Frazier didn’t necessarily take them out of the mix for Arenado or any other option at the hot corner if there is one out there.
General manager Jon Daniels, as a certain nod to a free agent market now bereft of top-end hitters, pointed to a trade as the way the Rangers would make a significant addition over the remainder of the offseason.
“I would think that if we do make any significant acquisition, a trade is more likely than a free agent…just the discussions we’ve had make me feel that way.”
Moving into a new ballpark, the Rangers have been a willing participant this offseason. After missing out on Rendon and Donaldson to fill their void at third base, Bryant has lingered in the background as an available option with a free agent status that is now clear. Bryant and Joey Gallo as a power-laden right-left combination in the middle of a lineup? Opposing pitchers beware.
1. Atlanta Braves
After failing to bring Josh Donaldson back, the Braves pivoted quickly to fill the void in the middle of their lineup by signing outfielder Marcell Ozuna to a one-year deal. But if the season started today Austin Riley or Johan Camargo would start at third base for Atlanta. Riley showed some power upon arriving in the big leagues last year before fading, and it’s possible third base is not his long-term position.
The Braves have naturally been among the rumored suitors for Nolan Arenado, as the early asking price for Bryant was considered too high. With a chunk of top prospects that are near major league-ready, particularly on the pitching side, Atlanta could now shift course back the other way and form a very good trade offer to the Cubs for Bryant.
A lineup led off by Ronald Acuna, with Freddie Freeman, Bryant and Ozuna in the middle third and supplemented nicely by Ozzie Albies, Dansby Swanson and Nick Markakis, would be regarded as one of the best in the National League and probably all of baseball. Payroll considerations aside, that’s an opportunity that can’t be disregarded in Atlanta before it’s thoroughly explored.