Chicago Cubs: 3 potential trade packages for Mookie Betts

A trade that could work for both the Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs that would give up the least amount, in terms of number of players, would be for the former 2016 MVP.

If the Red Sox would like to buy a few more seasons of remaining competitive before having to pay someone, a trade for Chicago Cubs third basemen Kris Bryant would make the most sense. Bryant is under team control through the 2021 season and would fill a need at third base for the Red Sox. The Cubs would likely have to throw in a prospect as Kris Bryant alone might not get this deal done.

Bryant has a career wRC+ of 139 compared to Betts’ wRC+ of 134. Both have been MVP’s, but Kris Bryant is coming back from a shoulder injury. I am confident he will return to the player he was before the injury, so perhaps a straight-up deal does get it done.

Anyways, Betts could slide in quite nicely at right field with Heyward sliding over to center field, which has been a lackluster position this year. Ian Happ was sent down to Triple-A Iowa to start the season and Albert Almora has been nothing short of terrible at the plate (wRC+ of 29).

Up until this year, Betts was batting leadoff for the Red Sox, so that would be another positive in the trade. The Cubs have not had a true leadoff hitter since Dexter Fowler left.

So with that, the Cubs batting order might look something like this:

1. Mookie Betts, RF

2. Daniel Descalso, 2B

3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B

4. Javier Baez, SS

5. Willson Contreras, C

6. Jason Heyward, CF

7. David Bote, 3B

8. Kyle Schwarber, LF

9. Pitcher

It goes without saying, but any trade for Mookie Betts would have to include an extension. Otherwise, the trade doesn’t make any sense to do, if you’re the Cubs. What does that extension look like?

I am not sure yet, but it’s probably close to $30 million per season. Unfortunately, that’s just where the sport is headed. Kris Bryant will likely get something close to that as well.