If the Chicago Cubs want to recoup their losses and turn back into a World Series favorite, these trades might be the first steps.
After breaking a 108-year World Series drought, the Chicago Cubs lost the NLCS in five games to the Dodgers. In 2018, they had a chance to clinch the NL Central at home in a Game 163. They lost that and then lost the Wild Card game at home the next day.
Then they missed the postseason last season for the first time since 2014.
Their 84 wins were their lowest total since that same season, and we have heard plenty of rumors who in on the block and who’s not. The near future of the Cubs looks bleak, but here are five trades they should already be thinking about.
5. Cubs Should Trade Kris Bryant
Kris Bryant had an interesting offseason. Bryant wanted to hit the free agency market after this upcoming season, rather than the 2021 season. The Cubs famously kept Kris Bryant in the minor leagues to start the 2015 season to gain an extra year of service time. Bryant filed a grievance in December of 2015, saying that the Cubs manipulated his service time, but it was ruled that Bryant’s free agency status would remain the same.
Bryant is set to make $18.6 million this year, and will once again go into arbitration in the next offseason. Bryant has already reportedly turned down offers upwards of $200 million. Bryant’s actions with the grievance case and turning down offers show that Bryant wants to test the free agent market – as he should. He won the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 2016, is a three-time All Star, and even finished in seventh place in 2017’s NL MVP voting.
With that being said, the Cubs could use a boost in their farm system. According to MLB.com, their minor league systems ranks 23rd in all of baseball, despite having four top-100 prospects. However, none of those top four are pitchers. Bryant could get a nice return of young, controllable arms.