Trading for Bryant comes with its own set of risks and rewards originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
In no uncertain terms, Nationals GM Mike Rizzo shut down the notion that Washington was in on the Kris Bryant sweepstakes in December.
“We haven’t had a serious conversation about Kris Bryant in probably two years,” Rizzo said in a Zoom press conference. “He was not a big guy on our radar last year or this year. He’s a great player but at this point and time of where we’re at, and what we have in our farm system, and where we’re going, we think we can allocate our dollars and prospect capital in another way.”
That seemingly closed the door on the Nationals trading for the 2016 NL MVP, but recent reports have indicated that Washington is still looking for an upgrade at third base. By denying serious interest in Bryant, the Nationals — whether intentional or not — are driving his price down. If the Cubs decide it's more prudent to dump Bryant’s contract than secure the best prospect package, the Nationals could end up back in it.
NBC Sports Chicago reporter David Kaplan joined the Nationals Talk podcast to discuss the Kyle Schwarber signing and the state of the Cubs’ rebuild. He talked about the pros and cons of any team considering Bryant would have to weigh before agreeing to trade for him.
“He’s gonna get $20 million in arbitration,” Kaplan said. “The Cubs want that money off the books. So whether it’s Washington, or the Yankees, or whoever it is, you may stumble into a guy in the walk year of his contract who could be an MVP. He’s that talented. But, if he can’t stay healthy — and he’s had that problem — you might be paying $20 million for a really average player.”
Bryant, 29, missed a little over a week in 2020 with a sprained finger. He struggled at the plate both before and after the injury, hitting .206 with a .644 OPS and four home runs in 34 games. Yet Bryant was an All-Star as recently as 2019 and has hit the Injured List only three times in his career. He would certainly give the Nationals a boost offensively; Bryant’s .889 career OPS would trail only Juan Soto for the highest mark among Washington hitters.
Download and subscribe to the Nationals Talk podcast
However, trading for him this offseason could come back to haunt the Nationals. Even at a reduced price, Washington would have to pluck valuable resources from its thin farm system just to make the deal. Then, the team would be on the hook for his salary, which at or around $20 million would make him the highest-paid position player in D.C. After that, the Nationals could lose him for nothing more than a compensation pick if he walks as expected in free agency.
The Nationals have plenty of avenues for which to explore in finding an everyday third baseman. For now, trading for Bryant doesn’t appear to be one of them. But until he does find a new home, the Nationals can’t be ruled out as a possible destination.
