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Last week the hot Kris Bryant trade rumor was coming from Atlanta, where a radio host listed four specific players the Cubs would be interested in from the Braves in a potential deal. The Braves make sense in a Bryant trade because they need a third baseman and have a deep farm system for the Cubs to choose a plethora of prospects. But if Bryant is traded, Josh Donaldson has to sign first for trade talks to accelerate with the Cubs and other teams.
A sticking point in Donaldson’s free agent negotiations has been wanting four-year offers and his patience appears to be working, as the Braves, Nationals and Twins all reportedly have offers on the table of four years for the third baseman.
The Braves willing to add that extra year in the contract might just end up being enough to re-sign Donaldson, who reportedly prefers to stay in Atlanta, but obviously wants the biggest deal he can get.
So, now the shift in conversation about Bryant has swung back to the Nationals.
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The 2019 World Series champs lost Anthony Rendon to the Angels and they’re obviously looking for another great third baseman to replace him. They’re in on Donaldson and in the trade market the Nationals are looking at both Bryant and Nolan Arenado.
Unlike the Braves, the Nationals’ minor league system isn’t as loaded, so the Cubs are looking at one guy to headline a deal for Bryant. That’s 22-year-old center fielder Victor Robles. And naturally, the Nationals don’t want to give up Robles in a trade…as of now.
Five-tool, center fielder? All right, obviously I’d prefer if the Cubs weren’t out here talking to teams about trading away their best player, but at least they’re asking for a high price as they should.
And that’s really where we stand with the Bryant trade rumors. The Cubs will continue demand a big haul for him and teams will be reluctant. BUT after Donaldson signs, then teams like the Nationals might finally get pushed to trade one of their best, young players for Bryant.
Specifically talking about the Nationals, a trade most likely isn’t going to happen if it doesn’t involve Robles.
