Cubs: 3 trade packages involving Kris Bryant

3. Toronto Blue Jays

Initially, I had the Tampa Bay Rays as a good fit but after further review, I didn’t like the package coming back. Outside of landing the top prospect in Wander Franco, who is a shortstop by the way and would likely move Javier Baez to third base where he has a career 0.951 fielding percentage, the Rays have a boatload of pitchers along and a couple of position players outside MLB’s Top 100.

Therefore, I think the Blue Jays are a better fit as a trade partner, but like the Padres, Bryant would be transferred to the outfield as 20-year-old Vladimir Guerrero Jr. isn’t moving off third base anytime soon. There is a lot of potential in the outfield for Bryant to land a permanent spot in Toronto. The Blue Jays have just $51 million on the books next year and $18 million in 2021, so they have the ability to give Kris Bryant whatever contract he would like.

Nate Pearson is the team’s number one prospect and is ranked as the 10th best prospect in baseball. Originally selected in the first round of the 2017 MLB Draft, Pearson displays one of the best fastballs that runs up to 104 mph and an above-average curveball. Already 23-years-old, he’s projected to be ready next season and played across three levels of the Blue Jays organization in 2019. In 25 starts, Pearson had a 2.30 ERA in 101.2 innings that saw him strike out 119 while allowing just 27 free passes and an opponents’ batting average of 0.176. He’d be a nice complement to Yu Darvish as a power pitcher in the Cubs rotation.

I also have left-handed starter, Anthony Kay coming over in the deal. He was part of the Marcus Stroman deal with the Mets last season and pitched very well across two levels and two organizations in 2019. In all, Kay threw 133.2 innings in 26 starts while spinning a 2.96 ERA and struck out 135 batters. He also allowed them to bat just 0.227 overall and 0.244 in 7 starts with Triple-A Buffalo. Kay was a September call-up for the Blue Jays, making 2 starts (3 appearances) and struck out 13 batters in 14.0 innings of work. He figures to be in a big-league rotation come 2020 Opening Day.

Last and certainly not least, I have the Cubs nabbing 2017 international free agent, Miguel Hiraldo and was viewed as the best overall hitter in that class. He spent nearly the entire year playing in the Appalachian League rookie ball and slashed 0.300/0.348/0.481 with 20 doubles, 1 triple, 7 home runs, 37 RBI and swiped 11 bases as well. He needs to clean up his defense at third base as the Blue Jays organization actually moved him off his natural position this past season while splitting time between shortstop and second base. He’s still just 19 years old and is projected to be ready by 2022.

Some of these trade packages are better fits for either club but the fact of the matter is that Kris Bryant is one of the best players in baseball and would command a high-profile return of prospects. Certainly, the Cubs could mix and match prospects while maybe grabbing a big-league player. Anyways, it’s food for thought.