The first day of the Winter Meetings just added more fuel to the hot stove, as Kris Bryant trade rumors were front and center for the Cubs. Theo Epstein didn't address trade speculation directly, but said he's frustrated that Bryant's grievance case has not been settled.
However, Epstein is confident in what the result will be.
According to a few different reports the ruling won't happen for another two weeks or maybe as late as the new year. Bryant is still expected to be under team control for two more seasons before becoming a free agent.
Of course, Epstein isn't going to show his cards in front of the media, saying that the team won't make moves this offseason just to make them.
Via MLB.com.
"I know we're not going to force anything. We're not going to make change just for change's sake," Epstein said. "I do think we can benefit from some change in certain areas. We are interested in pursuing some opportunities -- opportunities to get better immediately and opportunities to make our future healthier as well -- but you can't force anything."
But the signs are clear, the Cubs are open for business and that includes their best player who's had the third best fWAR in MLB since making his MLB debut in 2015.
And obviously teams are starting to call.
The Braves have been a popular team in trade speculation and now another NL East team has joined the party, as MLB.com's Jon Morosi is reporting that the Nationals have reached out about a possible Bryant trade.
The Nationals, who just re-signed Stephen Strasburg to a record-breaking contract, aren't expected to bring back free agent third baseman Anthony Rendon.
The other free agent third baseman is Josh Donaldson. Right now the Dodgers, Rangers, Phillies, Braves and Nationals are all in the market for a third baseman.
According to Ken Rosenthal, the Cubs will wait for Rendon and Donaldson to sign and then they'll look explore a Bryant trade.
Via The Athletic.
The Cubs are awaiting the signings of free-agent third basemen Anthony Rendon and Josh Donaldson, believing the losers of those sweepstakes will be prime targets for a Kris Bryant trade, sources said.
So, the Cubs are very much paying attention to free agency, but only because they want to see who doesn't end up signing a third baseman. Right now, a bidding war is shaping up in the NL East, as the Rangers seem to be the favorites to go all-in for Rendon.
That'll leave Donaldson for the Braves, Nationals and Phillies, while the Dodgers could also join the pursuit if they don't sign Rendon. At this point, if the Cubs do trade Bryant, you'd prefer a bidding war between the Dodgers and Braves, the two teams with the deepest farm systems who are trying to get a third baseman.
So, that's where we're at in early December. The Cubs are looking to trade Kris Bryant and that absolutely sucks.
