Bleacher Bums Forum

https://670thescore.radio.com/assessing-possible-kris-bryant-cubs-trade-partners

Does Levine actually know anything in that article, or is he just throwing things against the wall? With the Nationals, he mentions Robles, who was a top 5 prospect a year ago, plus more. Seems unlikely the Nationals would trade him.

But then for the Phillies, he says their best prospects would probably be off limits. And for the Braves, he mentions Ender Inciarte (whose contract might be underwater at this point) and Austin Riley (who has all the flaws the Cubs are trying to move away from) as top targets--I can't imagine the Cubs would have much interest in either of them as anything more than a throw-in. He also has Max Fried off limits.

If Ricketts doesn’t want to spend ever again than the $1.2 billion renovation is going to be a waste and the TV network which could print them money is going to flop.

Lol. No it's not. They are still selling out every game. Will sell way more luxury and premium seats. Lots of **** bags willing to spend $$ to be seen at wrigley.

Asked several times if the Cubs and Bryant have had serious talks about an extension, Scott Boras sidestepped the question: “We communicate with the Cubs constantly. Our doors are open…and more than willing to discuss anything like that on a long term basis.”

Boras on the idea of a player like Kris Bryant getting moved: “It’s hard to think how you ever replace them, and so when you get into those (elite) levels, historically, it’s normally not something that’s done.”

Those comments from Boras to me sound as if Bryant wants to return to the Cubs, or at least that Boras believes he does.

Might not the team's prospects after any such trade depend at least a bit on what the Cubs would get in return?

The players they get back won’t be as good as Bryant so the Cubs are going to be worse.

If Ricketts doesn’t want to spend ever again than the $1.2 billion renovation is going to be a waste and the TV network which could print them money is going to flop.

The Bulls were in the top 3 in attendance for years and years after becoming an embarrassment. I see no reason it would be different with the Cubs.

I think they will trade Bryant if they can get a decent return.  Not because they don't want to try to win this year, but because they don't want the entire organization to fall off the cliff when Bryant, Baez, Schwarber, Rizzo and Contreras all enter free agency within a couple of years of each other.  A responsible owner and front office have to look beyond the immediate season if they are going to be successful over the long term.

The Bulls may be having "attendance problems" right now (they're still 10th out of 30 teams).  Last year they were 2nd - and that was the first year in the 2010s that they weren't first.  And I don't know how any NBA owner could possibly act in way more conducive to being called cheap than Reinsdorf.

Blind faith in the Ricketts seems misplaced to me - the proof is in the pudding.  Having won the WS already they may well consider the franchise an ATM and nothing more. 

Or they could sign some of those guys to prevent them from falling off of a cliff.

I expect that they will sign some of them.  But that will merely leave them at the top end of the luxury tax and half a team to sign.