Chicago Cubs Rumors: 5 trades for selling 2021 All Stars
By Ryan Heckman
Just roughly a month ago, the Chicago Cubs were feeling pretty positive about their 2021 season. Sitting a few games above the Milwaukee Brewers in first place, the Cubs looked to continue holding their NL Central lead and make a run at the postseason.
Oh, how quickly things can change in this league.
Fast forward to the present, and the Cubs are reeling from a 10-game losing streak. One has to wonder just what exactly happened over the past couple of weeks. On one hand, some could have seen this coming. There was no way this roster was going to actually compete in 2021, was there?
The Cubs fooled us all into thinking they could take the pile of you-know-what the Ricketts have put together and turn it into a competent, winning team this year. Alas, the truth has come out. The Cubs stink, and it’s going to take more than re-tooling just one area to get this team up to snuff again.
Amidst a tough stretch, the Chicago Cubs can celebrate having two deserving 2021 All Stars on the roster.
Though it’s been a rough few weeks, the Cubs do have the privilege of seeing two of their guys named to the 2021 MLB All Star roster in third baseman Kris Bryant and reliever Craig Kimbrel.
Bryant is slashing .271/.353/.507 right now with 16 home runs and 42 RBI. With his future in question for a little while now, the Cubs could take advantage of a strong season and opt to deal him before the deadline later this month.
The same goes for Kimbrel, who will be a highly-sought-after name the closer we get to July 30. Kimbrel is posting a strong 0.59 ERA with a WHIP of 0.652. He will be one of the hotter relievers up for grabs in the coming days, and the Cubs should certainly explore trading him.
If the Cubs could trade both Bryant and Kimbrel, they could get some decent returns. Potentially, one of the following five trades might get it done.