With the MLB trade deadline quickly approaching at the end of the week (Friday 4 p.m. ET), trade discussions are beginning to heat up around the league.
According to MLB Network insider Jon Morosi, the San Francisco Giants have reportedly engaged in trade talks with the Chicago Cubs regarding four-time All Star Kris Bryant.
24-year-old catcher Joey Bart is reportedly the centerpiece of a potential offer from the San Francisco side.
Sources: The #SFGiants have spoken with the #Cubs about Kris Bryant, and the Cubs are evaluating 24-year-old catcher Joey Bart as one candidate to be requested on their side of the talks. Bart has a .904 OPS this year at Triple-A. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 28, 2021
Through 33 major league games with the Giants in 2020, Bart logged 24 hits, seven RBIs and 15 runs on a 0.233 batting average. Most of the former No. 2 overall pick’s 2021 season has been spent at the Triple A level with the Sacramento River Cats, notching 38 RBIs, nine home runs and a 9.05 OPS on a .310 BA through 44 games.
Bryant’s versatility makes him an attractive trade target for many teams around the league. With experience at first base, third base and left field, the 29-year-old star could be a great fit for an already-talented Giants team.
Bryant is currently in the midst of a one-year, $19.5 million deal with the Cubs. A possible holdback in this trade could be the prospect of giving up a talented young player in exchange for a player who will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
Morosi added that the only way a Bart-to-Chicago trade would go through is if other players were packaged alongside Bryant.
In addition to “multiple” other MLB teams, the New York Mets have also reportedly expressed interest in acquiring Bryant via trade.
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