3 most valuable players Cubs should trade away at the deadline

While Kimbrel will presumably net the Cubs the most if they were to trade a pitcher, the best potential trade asset they have right now on the roster in third baseman Kris Bryant. At times this year, Bryant has played like an MVP candidate. However, once the front office blows up the World Series core, Bryant is not expected to stay with the Cubs. They would keep Anthony Rizzo first.

Bryant will be hitting free agency this winter ahead of his age-30 season out of the University of San Diego. He is slashing .261/.347/.500 on the year in 73 games for the Cubs. Bryant has 15 big flies and 41 runs batted in on the season. While he typically plays third base, he has increased his trade value by playing some centerfield out of necessity for the Cubs. So where could he end up?

The best place for Bryant to be traded to is to a contending team in need of corner infield help. While trading him in-division to the Brewers would be considered blasphemous, trading him intra-league to a team like the New York Mets cannot be ruled out entirely. Right now, Bryant offers the most potential trade value out of core pieces potentially on the move like Rizzo or even Javy Baez.

Overall, the Cubs will be the most fascinating team to watch in baseball the next few weeks. If they continue to flounder, they would have one of the best rosters of any potential seller at the deadline. Should they get back to their winning ways, they might have the blessing from ownership to go out and chase an NL pennant one last time before the clock strikes zero in 2022.

What other players could the Cubs potentially part ways with in a blockbuster deals this summer?