Chicago Cubs: Nationals’ signings indicate potential Plan B

The Nationals’ recent signings Indicate a potential Plan B at third base, which could greatly benefit the Chicago Cubs, Kris Bryant.

As Kris Bryant celebrates his 28th birthday, the Chicago Cubs‘ discussions with the Washington Nationals have reportedly gone nowhere. The World Series Champions are also waiting on Josh Donaldson to sign with either the Minnesota Twins, Atlanta Braves, or themselves.

However, their recent activity would indicate that they are preparing for a Plan B in the event Donaldson chooses one of the two other teams. On Friday, the Nationals signed both Starlin Castro and Asdrubal Cabrera to shore up the holes within their infield. Top prospect, Carter Kieboom, was expected to take over full-time second base duties next season, but these signings appear to show a lack of faith in him.

Some members of the media have suggested that the Nationals could potentially move Kieboom to third base, but he has just 10 games of experience at the position in his career. I doubt they would want him learning on the fly, which now might suggest that they would make him available in a trade.

The Nationals have made it clear that they are not willing to part Victor Robles. The 22-year-old showed promise in his first full big-league season a year ago, which would leave the Cubs with an underwhelming package of Kieboom, Jackson Rutledge, and Tim Cate, per reports.

Only Kieboom is ranked within MLB’s Top 100 prospects, although Rutledge could be considered a fringe player as the big righty pitched very well after being selected in the first round of last year’s draft. As previously mentioned, his fastball velocity tops out near 100 mph, and the Cubs need a power arm in their rotation. Especially with both Jon Lester and Jose Quintana coming off the books after the 2020 season.

Cate is more of a finesse pitcher, utilizing deception and off-speed pitches to get batters out. But the Cubs need-not settle in a trade that would be giving up one of the best players in franchise history.

A Bryant trade will temporarily set the Cubs’ aspirations of deep postseason runs, but a trade that nets the right return could shorten the length of the rebuild while the team focuses on locking down some of their core players.