Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs are reportedly making efforts to sign first baseman Anthony Rizzo and shortstop Javier Baez to contract extensions.

The Cubs are expected to be sellers ahead of the July 30 trade deadline, but MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported Friday that Chicago is attempting to lock up Rizzo and Baez to new deals before engaging in trade discussions involving them.

While the Cubs are trying to keep Rizzo and Baez in the fold, Heyman noted that third baseman Kris Bryant and closer Craig Kimbrel are both on the block.

The Cubs have reached the playoffs in five of the past six seasons and won the World Series in 2016, but they face an uphill climb to make the postseason in 2021.

At 44-46, the Cubs are tied for third in the National League Central and trail the Milwaukee Brewers by eight games for first place.

Chicago has already made one move since Tuesday's MLB All-Star Game, trading outfielder Joc Pederson to the Atlanta Braves on Thursday for first base prospect Bryce Ball.

The situation the Cubs are entering has long been anticipated with Rizzo, Baez and Bryant all set to have their contracts expire. Each of those players had a huge hand in the Cubs' first World Series title in 108 years, and all can hit free agency in the offseason.

Rizzo, 31, has arguably been the heart and soul of the Cubs since debuting for the team in 2012. In his 10-year run with the Cubs, Rizzo is a three-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glover, one-time Platinum Glove winner and one-time Silver Slugger winner.

He has reached the 30-homer and 100-RBI threshold in a season four times apiece, and he is hitting .247 with 10 home runs and 33 RBI this season.

Rizzo hit just .222 in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, meaning his last season with upper-tier production came in 2019 when he hit a career-high .293 with 27 jacks and 94 RBI.

The 28-year-old Baez has been a key player for the Cubs since 2016 and has been the starting shortstop for the past three seasons.

He is a two-time All-Star, one-time Gold Glover and one-time Silver Slugger winner, and he was the National League Championship Series MVP in 2016.

Baez's best season came in 2018 when he hit .290 with 34 homers, 111 RBI and 101 runs scored en route to finishing second in NL MVP voting.

He struggled last season, slashing .203/.238/.360 with eight home runs and 24 RBI in 59 games, but he has been better in 2021 with a .238/.284/.493 slash line, 21 bombs and 56 RBI in 79 games.

The Cubs stand to get a ton of young talent in return if they trade all of Rizzo, Baez, Bryant and Kimbrel, but keeping Rizzo and Baez would give them two key veterans to lead a retooled roster in 2022 and beyond.

The Washington Nationals are reportedly showing interest in Chicago Cubs star Kris Bryant ahead of the 2021 MLB trade deadline on July 30.

Jon Heyman of the MLB Network reported the news Friday, but noted it's unclear whether a blockbuster deal is possible with the Nats unwilling to move pitching prospects Cade Cavalli and Jackson Rutledge.

The Cubs started their pre-deadline fire sale Thursday by trading outfielder Joc Pederson to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for prospect Bryce Ball. 

Chicago was already heading toward a likely offseason roster overhaul because of a high number of impending free agents, and the process was accelerated by a recent 11-game losing streak that's left them eight games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central division race.

Bryant is perhaps the most intriguing piece available because of his track record, highlighted by the 2016 NL MVP Award, and ability to play all over the diamond.

The 29-year-old Las Vegas native is a third baseman, but he's also made starts at first base and all three outfield spots for the Cubs in 2021. He even made one appearance at shortstop for the club in 2016, though he's unlikely to play that position consistently.

Bryant, who's posted an .854 OPS with 16 home runs in 81 games this season, said the situation is out of control but he'd always remember his time in Chicago fondly if he's moved.

"Whenever my time is done playing for the Cubs, whether I retire here or not, I certainly hope to go out representing who I am and just a good person and keep my head high and realizing, whether it's one World Series or four or five more, whatever we did here was special," Bryant told reporters. "And when I'm done playing this game, I can look back on however long I spent in this uniform and be very proud of it."

The four-time All-Star, who can become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason, would likely play center field if dealt to Washington. Starlin Castro has been playing well at third for the Nats. Josh Harrison could also shift to center with Bryant playing left.

What the Nationals would be willing to offer for a potential short-term rental isn't clear, though. Cavalli and Rutledge are the club's top two prospects in the MLB.com rankings. Next up on the list are pitcher Cole Henry and infielder Yasel Antuna.

Washington is six games back in the NL East, so trading anything of substantial value for Bryant without having a contract extension in place would come with risk.

Bryant probably makes more sense for a high-end World Series contender that believes he could be the missing piece for a championship run.

Kris Bryant was the hero Chicago needed.

The ascent of the Chicago Cubs' third baseman and outfielder was quick but expected for a player of his caliber. Bryant won the Golden Spikes Award as the nation's top college player in 2013 coming out of the University of San Diego. He was the Cubs' minor league player of the year in 2014, the NL Rookie of the Year in 2015 and the NL MVP in 2016, the same year he helped the team break their 108-year World Series drought. 

He was billed a hero from the minute he was drafted by the Cubs and he made good on that potential. 

But now he has the potential to play the same role for another team this season. 

Chicago is looking like a seller as the July 30 trade deadline approaches. As of Thursday, the Cubs are 44-46 and 8.0 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central. The club traded outfielder Joc Pederson to the Atlanta Braves on Thursday night, further fueling rumors of the impending fire sale that have dogged the team since the winter because of the club's failures to lock up key members of its core long-term.

First baseman Anthony Rizzo made it known that he was done negotiating a contract in April. Shortstop Javier Baez turned down a nine-figure deal ahead of the 2020 season and there has been no progress made with the team regarding his future past 2021. 

Bryant came to terms with the team on a one-year deal prior to the 2021 season, following the advice of agent Scott Boras to opt for yearly pay increases instead of a long-term contract while still under team control. 

President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer all but said the Cubs are looking ahead at a future that probably doesn't include the homegrown trio. 

"When you're in this moment and your playoff odds get into single digits at this time of year, you have to keep one eye on the future and think about what moves you can potentially make that can help build the next great Cubs team," Hoyer told reporters before the All-Star break. "I think you have to think through those things. I think it'd be irresponsible not to take those phone calls and think through it."

Should the Cubs trade Bryant? From a pure player standpoint, the answer is no. The 29-year-old Bryant effectively rebounded from the worst season of his career to put up All-Star numbers this year. He went into the break slashing .273/.353/.502 with a 0.854 OPS and 16 home runs. A player like that could be influential in helping the Cubs put together a few winning streaks that would allow them to climb back into the NL Wild Card race. Chicago is 7.5 games behind the San Diego Padres for the second Wild Card spot, which isn't an unrealistic amount of games to make up. 

The Cincinnati Reds (bad bullpen), the Philadelphia Phillies (even worse bullpen) and the Atlanta Braves (without Ronald Acuna Jr.) are the teams that stand between the Cubs and the Padres. 

Hoyer said the club isn't looking to undergo an entire rebuild as it did in 2012. He wants the team to be able to contend again within a few years. Locking up Bryant to a multi-year contract would allow Chicago to retool quickly instead of undergoing an entire rebuild. The club could bring in some pieces to build around Bryant instead of alienating the fanbase by trading away the best player and creating discord between the team and the public. 

Sounds nice, right? It's a romantic notion to think Bryant might want to keep playing for the only team he's ever known. But it's too romantic and probably unrealistic. 

The Cubs have been inconsistent and streaky. A 19-8 record in May had the Cubs in good position to become buyers. Even midway through June when the team had won six of seven, including five straight, the team looked like it had saved the front office from having to trade away any of its stars.  

But then they lost 11 straight. They went 2-8 over the final 10 games before the All-Star break. Fangraphs gave the Cubbies a 4.0 percent chance to reach the playoffs at the All-Star mark.

The rumors were swirling in Denver at the midsummer classic. 

Bryant, one of two Cubs selected to the NL All-Star Team (closer Craig Kimbrel was also named an All-Star), couldn't even dodge them while he was playing in the actual game, with Joe Buck asking him about them while he was wearing a microphone for the FOX broadcast. Bryant's father, Mike, was not happy about this. 

Even Kimbrel couldn't escape the trade rumors. The closer has returned to old form and his contract has an option for 2022, as does pitcher Jake Arrieta and outfielders Jake Marisnick and Joc Pederson. The Cubs have a lot of tradable assets that could return some players who are big league-ready, if not close to it, that would fit his timeline of contention within the next few years. 

So, if Hoyer thinks a reset is in order, then yes, he should absolutely trade Bryant, Rizzo, Baez and Kimbrel. Pricey rentals? Absolutely, so it might be more difficult to trade Rizzo and Baez. But Bryant brings tremendous value and versatility between his bat and his defense at multiple positions. If the club can't figure out a way to keep him past this season, then trade him and start the retool. 

The New York Yankees need corner outfield help. The New York Mets need a third baseman more defensively sound than J.D. Davis. The Washington Nationals haven't received much production out of the third base position since Anthony Rendon left after the 2019 season and the Cubs' divisional rivals in Milwaukee could use an upgrade at the position as well. 

What would a trade for Bryant look like? Manny Machado's move to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018 netted the Baltimore Orioles a package of five prospects centered around minor league outfielder Yusniel Diaz. None of those players have become productive major leaguers yet. 

That risk is always there when trading a player, but Hoyer would be wise not to follow in the footsteps of former Orioles general manager Dan Duquette or former Colorado Rockies GM Jeff Bridich, who traded third baseman Nolan Arenado to the St. Louis Cardinals for what is largely viewed to be a subprime package of prospects. 

Get major league-caliber players and a third baseman back in return. 

If Bryant was going to sign an extension, he probably already would have by now. The fact that no deals were reached with Bryant, Rizzo or Baez is telling, but it's not completely surprising. This is the same club that manipulated Bryant's service time in 2015 to be able to get another year out of him. Now they've squandered that season. 

It's the end of an era in Chicago. Bryant gets to go try to play the role of hero for someone else now. 

The Chicago Cubs already traded outfielder Joc Pederson to the Atlanta Braves, but that could be a precursor to a much bigger move prior to the trade deadline.

According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, the New York Mets "are among multiple teams with interest in Kris Bryant, whose versatility makes him a fit for many."

Bryant is a free agent after this season, and a Cubs team that once looked like a contender in the National League Central has plummeted in the standings after losing 13 of 15 heading into the All-Star break.

That means free-agents-to-be such as Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez could be on the way out for a team that may look to reset and move on from many of the core pieces that helped it win the 2016 World Series.

Bryant would be a major addition for the Mets or a number of other contenders.

His resume includes that World Series title, a National League MVP, a Rookie of the Year and four All-Star selections. He is slashing .271/.353/.502 with 16 home runs and 46 RBI this season and has four seasons of 26 or more home runs in his career.

As Heyman mentioned, his versatility also stands out.

Bryant has played first base, third base, left field, center field and right field for the Cubs this season and has helped them account for a number of injuries with his ability to play all over the field.

The Mets have also dealt with injuries throughout the season, so Bryant is someone who could provide insurance across the field while also bringing his All-Star bat to the lineup.

New York is in first place in the National League East, and adding someone like the 29-year-old could help it parlay its quick start into a deep playoff run.

The Atlanta Braves added some power to their lineup Thursday.

They announced they acquired outfielder Joc Pederson from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for first base prospect Bryce Ball. While Pederson is not the caliber of player of Ronald Acuna Jr., he could help make up for some of the lost production after the star was ruled out for the season by a torn ACL.

Here's a look at potential updated lineups for each side.

                 

Braves

1. Joc Pederson RF

2. Freddie Freeman 1B

3. Ozzie Albies 2B

4. Austin Riley 3B

5. Orlando Arcia LF

6. Dansby Swanson SS

7. Guillermo Heredia CF

8. Kevan Smith C

9. Pitcher

            

Cubs

1. Willson Contreras C

2. Kris Bryant RF

3. Anthony Rizzo 1B

4. Javier Baez SS

5. Patrick Wisdom LF

6. Nico Hoerner 2B

7. Ian Happ CF

8. Sergio Alcantara 3B

9. Pitcher

              

As for the payrolls, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported no money was swapped in the trade. That means the Braves will cover the remaining $3-plus million on Pederson's contract.

According to Spotrac, the Cubs' payroll will be approximately $152.7 million and the Braves will be approximately $144.2 million given that amount.

The first thing that jumps out about Pederson is his power. The 2015 All-Star hit 25 or more home runs four times in a five-year span from 2015 through 2019 and had 11 in 73 games for the Cubs this season.

His ability to drive the ball could help the Braves remain within striking distance in a winnable National League East. Despite their mediocre 44-45 record, they are still just four games behind the first-place New York Mets with the season's second half remaining.

As for the Cubs, this could be the first of many trades as they potentially shift into sell mode.

They stumbled into the All-Star break by losing 13 of 15 games, which dropped them back to third place in the National League Central and eight games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers. What's more, key players in Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Javier Baez are all free agents after this season.

They would likely command more in a trade than Pederson did, and this could be the first of a number of moves prior to the trade deadline.

The Chicago Cubs are reportedly planning to be sellers ahead of the July 30 MLB trade deadline.

According to Ken Rosenthal and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic, the decision has been helped along by a recent cold streak that has left them tied for third in the National League Central at 43-45, 9.5 games behind the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers.

Chicago has lost 12 of its past 13 games, including three-game sweeps at the hands of divisional rivals the Cincinnati Reds and Brewers.

The Cubs have several big names set to become free agents at the end of the 2021 season, with third baseman Kris Bryant, first baseman Anthony Rizzo and shortstop Javier Baez being chief among them.

All of them have been mentioned in trade talks at some point over the past couple of years, with Bryant seemingly being the most likely to move at any given time.

Starting pitcher Zach Davies is also set to become a free agent, while outfielder Joc Pederson has a mutual option for next season, starting pitcher Jake Arrieta has a club option and closer Craig Kimbrel has a vesting option.

Bryant is perhaps the top player who could be on the move, as he has bounced back after hitting just .206 with four home runs and 11 RBI during the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign.

In 79 games this season, the 29-year-old veteran and 2016 NL MVP is hitting .268 with 16 homers and 43 RBI.

The New York Mets have long been linked to Bryant, and it was reported last week by SNY's Andy Martino that they still have interest in Bryant, although they were uncertain at the time if Chicago would be willing to move him.

Rizzo, 31, has perhaps been Chicago's best and most consistent player over the year with three All-Star nods, four Gold Gloves and one Silver Slugger award.

His production is down this season to the tune of a .246 average, 10 homers and 33 RBI, but he has slugged 30 or more home runs and driven in 100 or more runs in a season four times each.

Baez may be the most likely of the star trio to stick in Chicago, as Rosenthal and Mooney noted that the 28-year-old was close to signing an extension last year before the COVID-19 pandemic essentially put MLB on hold.

The two-time All-Star, one-time Gold Glover and one-time Silver Slugger winner is hitting .234 with 21 homers and 56 RBI this season, although his 112 strikeouts are the most in the National League.

Each of Bryant, Rizzo and Baez played a huge role in the Cubs winning the World Series in 2016, so it is fitting that each of their tenures in Chicago could end at around the same time.

Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer essentially confirmed that teams have been calling about the trio:

"We've believed in these guys since 2015. They've had a ton of success, and I would never count these guys out. But 11 days ago, we were certainly fully on the buy side of this transaction and everyone was calling about that. Obviously, people are now calling to see which players are available, so it's a very different scenario than we expected. Life comes at you fast."

Kimbrel is perhaps the most likely Cubs player to be traded prior to the deadline, as Rosenthal and Mooney called him possibly the "most valuable player available in all of baseball right now."

The 33-year-old Kimbrel has experienced a career renaissance this season, converting 20 of a possible 22 save chances with a 0.57 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 31.2 innings.

Kimbrel has been named an All-Star for the eighth time in his career, and he could be a key piece in the bullpen of any contender, whether it is as a closer or setup man.

The Cubs have many quality players who could net huge returns and accelerate a potential rebuild, although Hoyer made it clear that he doesn't intend to enter into a full-on rebuild.

Joc Pederson is having a solid first season for the Chicago Cubs after joining the team in free agency one year after winning the World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

He joined B/R for an AMA that ranged from his decision to join the Cubs to his thoughts on future Home Run Derby participation and whether Chicago or L.A. has better food. 

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Bleacher Report: Can you tell me about this contest you’re a part of with Pepsi and the Cubs?

I’m not a singer but Pepsi and the Cubs are coming together for a cool experience. Cubs fans show up everywhere and are super faithful. They’re going to sing ‘Take Me Out to The Ball Game,’ in front of the whole stadium, come to the game, the whole works. I’m going to be a judge and I don’t have much singing experience, so i’m going to judge based on what might work and get on the scoreboard.

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@fitchkarma66 What influenced you to pick the Cubs?

The opportunity to play every day. I love it. The team, the fans and the city have all been super welcoming. 

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@WhatsUpitsNick Was there anyone you really wanted to play with on the Cubs?

Not really. I think I was fortunate enough to come here where they have a lot of good players i could learn from, so it’s really good fit.

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@not_KumarRocker Have you used the waffle maker at all?

I have not used it. I need to start to Waffling some more balls, but that was pretty funny what Ian Happ did.

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@Glen_Quagmire What’s the biggest difference between playing in LA vs. Chicago? (park/city/fans - however you want to interpret it)

Both amazing places to play. They both sell out. Completely different vibes, but both amazing in their own way.

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@RockerTanked4Us How did it feel for Champ get a ring with the Dodgers too?

I got to give it to him, so it was pretty cool. He’s been supporting me so i thought it was something I should do. He’s been alongside me for the whole time so it was a really cool feeling.

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@billwaltonfan23 Hey, my twin sister has downs and she encourages me to push hard to achieve my dreams. How much did Champ inspire you along the way to achieve yours? 

Every day. Just not taking life for granted and that we’re capable of doing so much. It’s an everyday reminder.

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@JA1108letsgo What was the best moment in your career, OTHER than winning the WS?

Playing in the All-Star game and doing the HR Derby twice were really cool experiences.

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@Opey Is there any chance you will join the HR Derby again? (showdown vs. Vladdy Jr. in 2019)

This year no. Maybe in LA. It’s in LA next year so I can put on a big show for those fans, but I’ll see.

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@RynestoneCowboy Have you noticed any adverse side effects this season from last year’s shortened season?

You panic a little bit more now because the season ended so abruptly. This year, you have to remind yourself there are literally three more months of the season.

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@ChiTownBaby What’s it like to be a Jewish player in the MLB? 

I don’t practice but I’m still proud. I got to play for Israel in the WBC and it was a really cool experience.

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@lordChristmas65 Most intimidating pitcher you’ve battled with?

Maybe Aroldis Chapman. He throws the ball so hard.

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@madduxtaylor If you weren’t playing baseball, what would you be doing?

Maybe, a fantasy football guru. I love fantasy football. JK, I’m not sure.

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Rapid Fire

@JosephMandarino LA or Chicago food?

Chicago.

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@MrBoban_ Your favorite athlete from another sport? 

Kobe Bryant. RIP.

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@Yankeek The stadium you like most is ____

Besides Dodgers Stadium and Wrigley, I like Pittsburgh. PNC Park. The bridge is supercool.

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@GorillaSuave Your best recent sneaker pickup? (he’s a sneakerhead)

I got the union 4s that just dropped a week or two ago.

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@abdulrahim1 Bucks or Suns and how many games?

Suns. Devin Booker. Book it. 

Chicago Cubs star Javier Baez was scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the Philadelphia Phillies because of a right thumb sprain.

Sergio Alcantara will start in place of Baez at short.

Javy Báez was scratched from tonight's lineup with a right thumb sprain.

New #Cubs lineup: pic.twitter.com/VPVIxjV7Rv

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 7, 2021

Baez has missed nine games this season, including three straight from June 7-9 because of a hand injury after hitting the ball off the end of his bat against the San Francisco Giants. 

Even though the Cubs didn't put Baez on the injured list, the situation was bad enough for him to sit out their series against the San Diego Padres.

Baez can be a difference-maker when healthy, though he's also struggled with consistency in 2021. The two-time All-Star has a .234/.282/.496 slash line with 21 homers and 56 RBI in 77 games.

Baez's absence in the lineup is a big blow to a Cubs squad that is looking to snap an 11-game losing streak, which has caused the team to fall all the way to fourth place in the National League Central. Chicago currently sits 8.5 games behind Milwaukee in the Central and eight games back of San Diego in the NL Wild Card race.