Kris Bryant is not Starling Marte. If the Chicago Cubs are dangling the three-time All-Star in trade talks — and if the New York Mets are interested — Bryant is the type of player Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen must meet any demands to acquire.
Pittsburgh Pirates GM Ben Cherington was reportedly interested in taking back two of the Mets’ top-five prospects in a deal for the 31-year-old outfielder, to which New York correctly balked at.
But to bring Bryant to Flushing — a 28-year-old World Series champion and 2016 NL MVP — Chicago GM Jed Hoyer can practically name his price and the Mets should still jump in with both feet.
Bryant recently lost his service-time grievance against the Cubs, moving his free agency date back to November 2021 and adding another year of team control to the lifetime .284/.385/.516 hitter (138 HR, 403 RBI, 139 wRC+ since making his debut in 2015).
The Las Vegas native is a fine fielder, registering -1 outs above average, -2 defensive runs saved, and a -2.6 ultimate zone rating in the outfield last season (166.2 innings in right field, 107 innings in left), and three outs above average, -7 DRS, and -1.4 UZR over 939 innings at third.
His defensive capabilities combined with his offensive exploits (21.7 fWAR since 2016; ninth in MLB) make Bryant the ideal candidate to put this roster over the top. Plus, with over $110 million estimated to come off the Mets’ books after this season, there will be ample space to lock Bryant up long-term.
Jeff McNeil can continue to act as the Mets’ utility-man extraordinaire, bringing his skills wherever skipper Luis Rojas needs them — most likely in left field, where McNeil posted -2 OAA last season — and Bryant would assume responsibilities at third base for the foreseeable future.
Jim Bowden of The Athletic lists the Mets as a potential destination for Bryant’s services, naming 2019 third-round right-hander Matthew Allan, 21-year-old shortstop Andres Gimenez, and “another mid-level prospect” as a possible return.
If that’s all it takes to land Kris Bryant for two seasons, sign most of us up. Though, it’s hard to believe Hoyer and Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein would allow a franchise cornerstone and fan-favorite to walk for what would amount to a couple of high-end prospects.
If Chicago were to counter Bowden’s hypothetical offer, asking Van Wagenen to include a ready-made MLB impact guy such as J.D. Davis in addition to Allan and Gimenez would make sense. As much as it would hurt to see him go from a fan’s perspective, these are necessary sacrifices a contending team needs to make.
After a .307/.369/.527 (136 wRC+) breakout campaign in 2019 — including elite marks in exit velocity, hard-hit rate, and expected stats, per Baseball Savant — Davis’ value is at an all-time high.
His bat coming off Rojas’ bench in 2020 is expected to be a positive for this roster and with McNeil penciled in at third at the moment, Davis could theoretically be the Mets’ Opening Day left fielder. But if a deal with Chicago hinges on Davis’ inclusion, plans can change.
Van Wagenen has said many times this offseason that he’s always looking to improve the New York Mets. If the Cubs are interested in what the Mets have to offer for Bryant, that’s a move this front office needs to make.
