Red Sox Trade Rumors: Long-shot blockbuster deals we wish would happen
By Sean Penney
The Chicago Cubs are open for business, with ESPN’s Buster Olney reporting that Bryant is on the block. While it’s surprising that the 2016 World Series champions would be looking to sell, Theo Epstein apparently doesn’t consider anyone untouchable.
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Bryant is coming off a down season derailed by shoulder issues that resulted in multiple trips to the disabled list. He set career-lows with a .272 average, .834 OPS, 13 home runs and 52 RBI in 102 games this season.
Dealing for a player coming off a bad season is risky but Bryant is only 26 years old and two years removed from being the NL MVP. He’s entering his second year of arbitration after setting a record salary for first-year arbitration-eligible players this season and remains under team control until 2022.
The Red Sox remain high on the upside of Rafael Devers at the hot corner but he declined at the plate in his sophomore year and remains a defensive liability. If a healthy Bryant returns to pre-2018 form, he’s the player the Red Sox hope Devers will one day become. A package built around Devers could be what the Cubs are looking for in any potential Bryant deal.