Cubs fans assume Kris Bryant’s been traded after being randomly removed from game

Chicago Cubs utility man Kris Bryant was removed from Tuesday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Chicago Cubs have begun their fire sale this past week by trading outfielder Joc Pederson to the Atlanta Braves. With the trade deadline approaching, it appears it will be a matter of when, not if, the Cubs trade utility man Kris Bryant, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

During Tuesday night’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Bryant was pulled from the game in the fifth inning and effectively replaced by Ian Happ. While many are speculating as to whether Bryant removed from the game for trade purposes, that was not the case.

The Cubs announced that Bryant was removed from the game due to right hamstring fatigue, via ESPN’s Jesse Rogers.

Cubs: Kris Bryant removed from Tuesday’s game against Cardinals

Rogers expressed his belief that Bryant was pulled after making a diving catch back in the second inning. The catch in question can be seen in the tweet below:

Bryant is a hot commodity on the trading block, mostly due to his performance at the plate and his versatility in the field. This season, he has played at third, first and all three outfield positions, which is a major positive for teams with World Series aspirations.

After leaving Tuesday night’s game, Bryant was slashing .264/.346/.489 while recording 16 home runs, 48 RBI, 53 runs scored and 81 hits through 86 games.

Cubs fans can pump the brakes on the trade talks for now, as Bryant exited the game due to a right hamstring issue. We, of course, will keep you posted on Bryant’s status leading up to the July 30 trade deadline.