3 prospects Cubs should target in Kris Bryant trade talks
2. White Sox prospects
Kris Bryant in a White Sox uniform might make some Chicago baseball fans uncomfortable. As painful as it can be, it’s possible both the North and South Side front offices can come together make a deal that’s best for both teams.
The crosstown rivals have made just two trades since 1998, with the latest being one fans will remember for a long time. Prior to the 2017 trade deadline, the Cubs sent then-top prospects Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease in a deal which landed them starter Jose Quintana.
At the time, it appeared to be the right move for the Cubs, who were in need of a starter and looking to repeat as World Series champions, but the deal has leaned in the favor of the White Sox in recent years.
It wouldn’t and shouldn’t have an affect on whether or not a deal gets done this season. The Cubs need to get value for their All-Star while they can, and Bryant could add to an already solid White Sox roster in multiple positions.
Getting back pitchers who already have a bit MLB experience like former top prospects Michael Kopech and Garrett Crochet would be more than ideal for the Cubs, but it would likely take a lot more to pry either loose, especially given the multiple years of team control they still have.
The Cubs would have to settle for current prospects in the White Sox farm system, which ranked No. 16 in the majors prior to this season per MLB Pipeline.
Among the top outfield youngsters in the White Sox top 10 who the Cubs might have their eyes on are (No. 2) Yoelqui Céspedes and (No. 9) Gavin Sheets.
The younger brother of Yoenis Céspedes, Yoelqui is 23 years old is thought to have above-average raw power and the ability to play all three outfield positions. It’s been a bit of a rough transition so far in his first minor-league season.
In 19 games at High-A Winston-Salem, Céspedes is slashing .211/.286/.447 with four home runs and seven RBIs in 85 plate appearances.
Sheets, who was drafted as a first baseman, has already been called up this season and used in the outfield as a reinforcement following the many injuries the White Sox have suffered this season. He’s shown flashes of his offensive potential, slashing .225/.319/.525 with three homers and nine RBIs in 47 MLB plate appearances.
Prior to his debut, Sheets fared well at Triple-A Charlotte, where he posted a slash line of .292/.352/.472 with seven home runs and 33 RBIs in 176 plate appearances this season.
It’s possible the Cubs could use Sheets permanently in one of their corner outfield spots or potentially at first base should they part ways with soon-to-be free agent Anthony Rizzo.
The returns of Luis Robert and Eloy Jimenez could make the White Sox willing to part ways with their young outfield prospects, but it would still likely require the Cubs to take on a healthy portion of Bryant’s remaining salary to get one of their best available.