There was a flurry of movement Thursday and Friday ahead of the MLB trade deadline (4 p.m. Eastern Friday), including the Chicago Cubs dealing Javier Baez and Trevor Williams to the New York Mets, Anthony Rizzo to the New York Yankees, and Craig Kimbrel to the crosstown White Sox. The Cubs continued to make moves Friday, sending Kris Bryant to the San Francisco Giants in a deal reported just before the deadline:
Bryant to SF, source tells, ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 30, 2021
Source confirms: Kris Bryant to Giants. First: @JeffPassan.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 30, 2021
I’ve confirmed the Giants have received Kris Bryant from the Cubs.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) July 30, 2021
Here’s a breakdown of the prospects the Giants sent back:
Cubs receive OF Alexander Canario (No. 9 SF prospect per @MLBPipeline) and RHP Caleb Killian (No. 30) from the Giants for Kris Bryant, per source.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 30, 2021
Alexander Canario made a lot of sense to include — despite his obvious upside — because he's already on the 40-man roster and is years from big-league ready. But a big-time talent. And Caleb Kilian has been outstanding this season. He could be in the big leagues early next year.
— Melissa Lockard (@melissalockard) July 30, 2021
The 29-year-old Bryant was hitting .267/.358/.503 for the Cubs this year and had produced 2.8 wins above replacement, as per FanGraphs. He had made 10 starts at first base, 26 at third base, and 54 in the outfield this season. His 2.8 WAR so far would be third amongst Giants’ position players, behind only Buster Posey and Brandon Crawford. It’s unknown what the exact return is for Bryant (who’s on a one-year, $19.5 million contract), but he should certainly help give the Giants’ offense more pop. But it’s certainly notable to see him moving on from the only MLB team he’s played for; the Cubs chose him second overall in the 2013 MLB draft, and he’d played for them since making his major-league debut in 2015, winning the World Series with them in 2016. Here’s video of Bryant finding out he was traded:
Here’s the moment Kris Bryant finds out he’s been traded to @SFGiants.
It’s OK to wipe away the tears. For all of us.@Cubs #GoCubsGo pic.twitter.com/PRrBWKYfV8
— Billy Krumb (@ClubhouseCancer) July 30, 2021
Bryant is one of a record number of All-Star players moved this year, as MLB’s Sarah Langs noted:
10 players who were All-Stars this year have been traded: Joey Gallo, Nelson Cruz, Kyle Gibson, Adam Frazier, Eduardo Escobar, Kyle Schwarber, Max Scherzer, Craig Kimbrel, Trea Turner, Kris Bryant
That’s the most players to make ASG & change teams in a season
h/t @EliasSports
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) July 30, 2021
[Photo from Kamil Krzaczynski/USA Today Sports]
