Dodgers: Giants’ reported interest in Kris Bryant is bad news for 2022 and beyond

PEORIA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 24: Kris Bryant #17 of the Chicago Cubs stands on deck alongside Anthony Rizzo #44 during the first inning of the MLB spring training game against the Seattle Mariners at Peoria Stadium on February 24, 2020 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PEORIA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 24: Kris Bryant #17 of the Chicago Cubs stands on deck alongside Anthony Rizzo #44 during the first inning of the MLB spring training game against the Seattle Mariners at Peoria Stadium on February 24, 2020 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Wait … weren’t the Los Angeles Dodgers supposed to be making marquee additions at the trade deadline without interruption from TWO other top contenders in their division?

Everyone knew the San Diego Padres were going to be a problem, but the San Francisco Giants upending all the plans? Come on. Well, they’re the best team in MLB. It’s a reality.

Even worse? They’re going after some targets the Dodgers will be chasing ahead of Friday at 4 p.m. ET.

Relievers, starters, and sluggers to spark the lineup, you know it! The Giants will be right there.

They’ve already been mentioned in the Max Scherzer buzz, killing LA’s mojo.

Now San Fran is reportedly eyeing Chicago Cubs star Kris Bryant, who has long been viewed as a fit for the Dodgers given his versatility on defense and his all-around hitting abilities.

The Giants are interested in Kris Bryant … who was supposed to be a Dodgers trade target.

Now, it would certainly be a problem if the Giants added a talent like Bryant for the 2021 season (he’ll be a free agent come November), but it’s even more worrisome about what could happen after that.

Assuming Bryant’s three-ish-month stay with the Giants goes well, why wouldn’t they have the first crack at signing him when the offseason arrives? San Fran has a ton of money coming off the books after this season (it could be well over $100 million!) so they might have no problem satiating Bryant’s and Scott Boras’ fiscal desires.

Bryant can play all over the outfield as well as at first and third base. On top of that, he’s able to put forth offensive numbers at an MVP level as long as he stays healthy. He’s batting .270 with an .867 OPS and 18 bombs. He’s cut back on his strikeouts as well. What’s stopping Farhan Zaidi (a former Dodgers exec!) from throwing a blank check at him and starting a new era of Giants baseball once they reconfigure this offseason?

We’re still a number of steps away from that potentially happening. After all, the Giants would need to out-bid the Dodgers (or somebody else) between now and Friday afternoon. But if that’s the top acquisition Zaidi is investing all of his energy into, then it could be a problem for the Dodgers well beyond 2021.