Chicago Cubs: 3 players who could be traded with slow start

Kris Bryant

Let’s start with the obvious one. If Kris Bryant is still on the Opening Day roster, he’d likely be the first to go if the Cubs get off to a sluggish start. The team reportedly offered him a multiyear extension a couple of seasons ago, and reports this offseason suggest that the two parties are way off on salaries they have in mind.

Bryant’s agent, Scott Boras, has been known to get teams to overpay for his clients, but the Cubs need to hold their ground. While it would be nice to have Bryant in a Cubs’ uniform for his entire career, the front office needs to consider that he may have already peaked in his career. The 28-year-old was hampered by a shoulder injury in 2018 and dealt with knee inflammation on a couple of occasions last year.

Thanks to his grievance hearing, he’s scheduled to become a free agent after the 2021 season, as planned. He’s still capable of being an excellent player for years to come, but the odds are likely that the Cubs will not be able to retain him. They appear to be heading towards a contract extension with Javier Baez, and many believe that it’s one or the other.

Bryant would get a substantial return, especially at the trade deadline, when teams are desperate for the final push. The Cubs have already discussed several names with teams and believe to be in the market for nearly Major-League ready pitching help with both Jon Lester and Jose Quintana headed to free agency after the upcoming season.