Jeff Passan ruins hot stove for everyone with Kris Bryant trade fake-out

ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan faked out Boston Red Sox fans with trade announcement involving the Chicago Cubs.

With the first slate of spring training games scheduled to take place on Sunday, many fans were left wondering if there could be big moves on the horizon. Well on Saturday, Boston Red Sox fans believed they pulled off the final blockbuster move of the hot stove season. That was not the case, much to their chagrin.

According to ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan, the Red Sox have acquired Bryant from the Chicago Cubs! No, not Kris Bryant. Rather, 22-year-old prospect pitcher Zach Bryant, which is the corresponding move for the Josh Osich trade from this past season.

Jeff had us in the first half, we’re not gonna lie

Passan nearly gave every baseball fan heart palpitations. Everyone thought the Cubs finally pulled the trigger on a Bryant trade before he hits free agency next winter. Nope, it is a completion from their transaction last trade deadline.

Zach Bryant is a 15th-round draft pick by the Cubs in 2019 out of Jacksonville University. Bryant pitched in 12 games across rookie level and Class A short-season, where he posted a 1-1 record, 1.27 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 24 strikeouts across 21.1 innings of work.

As for Osich, he only pitched four games with the Cubs last season, where he struck out four batters and surrendered six runs (three earned) in 2.2 innings of work. That left Osich with a 10.13 ERA. This offseason, Osich signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds.

Kris Bryant is not traded yet, but that could change in the middle of the season if things go awry for the Cubs. Maybe then the Red Sox will give them a call to try and acquire him. Bravo to Passan for the genius troll job, though. He definitely woke every baseball fan up on a lazy Saturday afternoon.