Dodgers and Cubs are perfect trade partners for Kris Bryant
Why trading Bryant to LA makes sense for Chicago
If it turns out that Kris Bryant is entering a contract season, the Cubs have even more reason to deal their best asset before he departs for a pick in free agency. The Dodgers have one of the top farm systems in baseball and could help accelerate the Cubs’ rebuild on the fly. While the Dodgers are unlikely to part with Gavin Lux the Cubs could try to pry Kiebert Ruiz, Jeter Downs, and Josiah Gray from the Dodgers.
With Willson Contreras on the trade block, Ruiz could be the Cubs’ catcher of the future as Chicago’s number two prospect, Miguel Amaya, is still a few seasons away from the big leagues. Gray and Downs would be good gets for the Cubs as both are top 100 prospects in all of baseball and come with good potential. Obviously, the package the Cubs would get will depend on how many seasons of Bryant the Dodgers would get.
The Cubs are also looking to get under the luxury tax and the Dodgers have plenty of room to take on Kris Bryant’s projected arbitration salary of $18.5 million dollars. This would allow the Cubs to make other moves for the future like sign Nick Castellanos or give them more payroll wiggle room to extend Javier Baez. The Cubs could unload salary and get a nice prospect haul from the Dodgers.