(670 The Score) The possibility of the Cubs dealing any of their icons looks like it may well go down to the wire on the afternoon of the July 30 trade deadline.
The Cubs’ trade chips include closer Craig Kimbrel, infielder/outfielder Kris Bryant, shortstop Javier Baez and first baseman Anthony Rizzo, each of whom is on a path to free agency at season’s end. Clearly, the Cubs haven’t found a deal to their liking yet, and the dynamic surrounding each player hasn’t changed much in recent days.
The primary interest from opposing teams has centered on Kimbrel, Bryant and other Cubs relievers, sources said. There have been fewer discussions regarding Baez and Rizzo.
Teams are really hesitant to give up their top prospects for a rental player in the current marketplace. So if the Cubs want to extract premier talent from an opposing club, bundling Kimbrel and Bryant together to the same team could be an option.
With that idea in mind, the NL East may be the best place to look. The Mets’ interest in Bryant has been and remains real, sources said, and two other teams in the division have inquired about him as well. Kimbrel would also give a big, immediate boost to any team in MLB as well.
Beyond the negotiating tactics, another one of the reasons so many trades happen on deadline day is because a full week in MLB can represent an eternity as clubs decide their direction and exactly where they stack up. And that's about how long remains until the trade deadline, as eight days are left before final decisions must be made.
Those eight days can make the difference between whether a team would pay for a rental player for a few months or desire a player with a different contractual status.
“In our league, it's important to remember that three of the five playoff spots are likely going to be the Giants, Dodgers and Padres,” an NL scout said. “That makes the NL East and NL Central a battle for only winning the division. Teams like Cincinnati, Chicago, St. Louis, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Washington will trade with one eye on the division and another on the roster for 2022.”
Kimbrel seems to be the most likely to be traded, as his spectacular season (0.51 ERA, 0.68 WHIP) has made him one of the hottest commodities in baseball. The Astros, Red Sox, Blue Jays and Athletics are among the teams that have expressed interest, 670 The Score reported last Friday. Kimbrel’s contract includes a $16-million club option for 2022, so he could be more than a rental player depending on how the potential acquiring team views its situation and him.
It appears unlikely that a team will pay much in the way of young talent for a high-profile shortstop like Baez or the Rockies’ Trevor Story on the trade market. Both would be rental players, and most of the elite, championship-contending teams in MLB don’t have a need at that position.
There have been few discussions on the Rizzo front. He’s having a mediocre season, hitting .242 with 11 homers, 35 RBIs and a .765 OPS in 85 games. Rizzo, 31, has also experienced back troubles. What he brings by way of leadership, playoff experience and defense could lead to some late interest.
At this point, Cubs brass may choose to keep some of their top free agents-to-be and then offer a long-term extension and/or extend a one-year qualifying offer for 2022. If a qualifying offer is declined, the Cubs would receive draft compensation.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.