It’s sort of ironic to think we’d be sitting here in the wake of the 2018 MLB season talking about the Chicago Cubs parting ways with superstar talent. Yet, here we are.
Two seasons have come and gone since the Chicago Cubs won their first World Series title in 108 years, and they were given the label as a potential dynasty to run the National League for the next decade. While the star-studded team from the Windy City has made the postseason in both seasons since their title run, they haven’t been able to channel that inner dominance in the playoffs that brought them all the way through.
It just goes to show how difficult it is to consistently dominate at the MLB level. However, according to a report by ESPN, the Cubs are willing to discuss trades for almost all players on the current roster.
Yes, including Kris Bryant.
Out of speculation, it appears as the Cubs are looking to move salary, as they are rumored to be one of the teams that’ll be heavily pursuing Bryce Harper this winter. Yet, that’s where you start to question why they’d look to move the 2016 NL MVP. Bryant is arbitration eligible for the next three years, and is coming off of an injury plagued 2018 in which he only played 102 games.
One can imagine the likes of Anthony Rizzo and Jon Lester also headline the class of potential candidates that could be dealt by Theo Epstein this offseason.
When names like that bounce around on the trade market, two teams always come to mind: The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. In this instance, particularly the Yankees. Brian Cashman has shown the willingness to wheel-and-deal whenever he sees a World Championship on the horizon, and they’ve been linked to every left-handed starter that’s on the market.
Lester is coming off of a season in which he went 18-6 with a 3.32 ERA, and was a strong second half away from being a Cy Young candidate again.
It’s a very peculiar situation the Cubs are in as we head into the offseason. But it’ll just add to the excitement and the drama that exists within every winter.
