Report: Cubs, Mets resume Bryant talks
The Chicago Cubs and New York Mets have resumed discussions about a potential trade involving former NL MVP Kris Bryant, according to Andy Martino of SNY.
The likelihood of a trade is apparently unknown, and SNY's Jim Duquette recently reported that the Cubs would prefer to hang onto Bryant until the in-season trade deadline unless they are blown away by an offer.
Bryant, 29, has been a fixture in the rumor mill this winter with the Cubs in a transition phase. Chicago already traded NL Cy Young runner-up Yu Darvish to the San Diego Padres, non-tendered Kyle Schwarber, and allowed numerous players to leave via free agency, including Jose Quintana, Jon Lester, and Albert Almora Jr.
The Mets currently have J.D. Davis pegged to play third base entering the 2021 campaign. Davis, 27, is under team control for four more seasons and has posted an impressive .853 OPS in two years with New York. Without the benefit of the designated hitter in the Senior Circuit, bumping Davis to left field is more complicated as the Mets deal with an outfield logjam of Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo, and Dom Smith.
Including Davis in a Bryant deal remains a possibility, as the Cubs previously expressed interest in him, reports Martino.
Bryant, a three-time All-Star, ranked as the best third baseman in baseball between 2015-19, according to FanGraphs WAR. However, he is coming off the worst year of his career, hitting .206/.293/.351 with four homers over 34 games in the pandemic-shortened campaign. The former NL Rookie of the Year is owed $19.5 million in his final season of arbitration eligibility before being able to test free agency next winter.