Hoyer: Cubs will consider trading from core
The Chicago Cubs could look very different in 2020.
Core players such as third baseman Kris Bryant, catcher Willson Contreras, shortstop Javier Baez, and outfielder Kyle Schwarber could be dealt after general manager Jed Hoyer admitted Tuesday the team will consider trading from its core.
"We've had a stable core for five years ... We're going to have change," Hoyer said, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
Several executives around the league reportedly believe Bryant may be moved. Contreras is also rumored to be available; multiple teams seeking catching help believe he'll be on the trade block this winter.
Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein didn't want to fuel trade speculation when he talked with reporters at the GM Meetings in Phoenix, but he didn't rule anything out.
"These guys whose names keep coming up in trade rumors have done a ton for our franchise," Epstein said, according to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. "They're among the very best players in the world. And I don't want to do anything to make their lives more difficult.
"Most trade rumors out there are not true. We have no idea how this winter's going to go down."
Bryant posted a .903 OPS with 31 home runs in 2019, while Contreras slashed .272/.355/.533 with 24 homers. Baez had a .531 slugging percentage with 29 round-trippers. Schwarber went deep 38 times but was the only player of that group not to earn an All-Star nod in 2019.