Chicago Cubs: Dodgers waiting on Kris Bryant’s grievance hearing

The Los Angeles Dodgers are waiting on Kris Bryant’s grievance hearing against the Chicago Cubs and could potentially make a trade once resolved.

While most of the Kris Bryant trade rumors have been linked to the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals, a surprise team loaded with young talent could potentially make a trade with the Chicago Cubs. The Los Angeles Dodgers are waiting on Bryant’s hearing, which could determine if he’ll be a free agent after the 2020 season. It is doubtful that that will happen, and with their recent struggles to get over the hump in the playoffs, acquiring Bryant makes entirely too much sense.

The Dodgers have been linked to Francisco Lindor trade discussions with the Cleveland Indians, but they are reportedly unwilling to give up their top prospect in Gavin Lux. As was the same with the Nationals and Victor Robles, but the Cubs should hold firm on asking for Lux, and Robles for that matter. A former GM recently indicated that the Cubs’ asking price for Bryant is “obscene” and downplayed how good of a player he is.

However, if the Cubs’ front office is going to dangle one of their best players for other teams to discuss potential trades, the receiving team is going to have to pay. And while the Dodgers’ attention has been primarily on Mookie Betts and Lindor, MLB.com believes that they will, indeed, trade for Bryant before the season.

The Dodgers’ only notable move this offseason has been the signing of reliever Blake Treinen to a one-year deal worth $10 million. They currently sit approximately $38 million below the luxury tax threshold for next season and can afford to take on more salary. Assuming Bryant loses his case against the Cubs, he’ll be under team control for another two seasons, and the Cubs should start by asking for these three players:

Gavin Lux, 2B

Lux is rated as the top prospect in baseball and got a taste of the big leagues as a September call-up last year. He slashed .240/.305/.400 with two home runs and 9 RBI in 23 games but destroyed baseball for a living in the minors. Across two levels of the Dodgers’ minor leagues, he slashed .347/.421/.607 with 26 home runs and 76 RBI. The 22-year-old Kenosha, Wisconsin native, is also under team control through the 2024 season and could allow the Cubs to stagger their extensions.

Dustin May, RHP

The Dodgers struck gold in the 2016 MLB, taking Lux in the first round and finding May in the third round. He is ranked as the 32nd best prospect and 10th best pitching prospect in baseball. Across two levels of the minors last year, May posted a 3.37 ERA in 20 starts while striking out 110 batters in 106.2 innings and limiting hitters to a .231 average. He recently dropped his four-seam fast fastball from his pitching arsenal in lieu of a two-seam, which tops out in the high 90s. Scouts love his curveball, slider, and cutter, and he’s recently added a changeup.

Josiah Gray, RHP

The Cubs have to get at least two almost-ready Major League pitchers. May fulfills the first, and Gray is projected to be ready in 2021. The 75th best prospect pitched across three levels of the Dodgers’ organization in 2019 and posted a combined 2.28 ERA in 25 starters while striking out 147 batters in 130.0 innings and holding batters to a .207 average. He, too, has recently added a changeup to his arsenal, but he has above-average pitches in both his fastball and curveball.

Expect a ruling on Bryant’s hearing in the next week or so, and then trade discussions should be full steam ahead.