Kris Bryant - Best Landing Spots

The Chicago Cubs have publically stated that they are in sell mode, leaving the futures of many core pieces in question. While Anthony Rizzo and Javy Baez have floated around in trade rumors, the most talked about and most sought after piece is Kris Bryant. KB's elite offense and defensive ability at third and in the outfield makes him a huge get for any would-be contender. With a little less than half of the MLB still in buy mode, here are the best fits for the 29-year-old Cubbie.

Bryant has posted an .835 OPS in the final year of his contract

New York Mets

At just 6 games above .500, the Mets are the worst division leader in the bigs. Benefitting from a surprisingly weak and disappointing NL East, the Mets have managed to command a division lead despite injuries and subpar offense. If completely healthy, their pitching staff is far and away the best in baseball, but they'll need to boost their offense if they wish to be competitive in the playoffs. JD Davis has been a nice piece at third, but Bryant is on a completely different level, and with Lindor's oblique injury, they'll need the infield help. This is a team that believes they can compete for a championship, but right now, their offense just isn't cutting it. Bryant is in the midst of his 4th All-Star season and would be a welcome addition to a team that has the second fewest Runs in baseball.

San Francisco Giants

The Giants are right up there with the Red Sox as one of the most surprising teams of 2021. In an NL West that was supposed to be dominated by the Dodgers and Padres, the Giants have commanded a division lead for most of the season. Their offense has been productive, hitting the 2nd most Home Runs in the MLB, despite lacking offensive superstars. Posey and Brandon Crawford have been tremendous, but they could definitely use an elite bat to bolster their lineup. Evan Longoria got off to a tremendous start but has been out since June with a sprained left shoulder. He'll be out well into August. If they were to acquire Bryant, he could fill in at third until Longoria returns, at which point Kris could move to the outfield. The Giants' .634 winning percentage makes them the best team in baseball, and they still only have a 2 game advantage over the Dodgers. They'll need to keep up the pace if they want to outlast the Dodgers, and Bryant could certainly help those efforts.

Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers are poised to run away with the NL Central. They swept their greatest threat, the Cincinnati Reds, coming out of the All-Star break. The Reds have lost 4 straight to open the second half and now find themselves 7.5 back. The Brewers don't need to make any moves to secure the division, but it might be worth making a move after taking a look at their NL competition. If the Brewers want to contend for the championship, they'll have to match up with powerhouses like the Dodgers, Padres, and Giants. Christian Yelich has underperformed, and while Willy Adames has stepped it up with his new squad, the Brew Crew's offense could use an established elite bat. Bryant would be an improvement over current third baseman Luis Urias, whose offensive numbers are barely above average. Adames has been a great story, but Milwaukee might want to get a proven offensive talent like Bryant that could also give Yelich some protection in the lineup.

Chicago White Sox

The final landing spot for Bryant is admittedly a bit of a long shot, but boy would it be interesting. Chi Town's teams haven't swapped players since 2017, when the White Sox dealt Jose Quintana for prospects Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease. It's not often you see a crosstown trade but it would be interesting. The White Sox should run away with their division thanks to a sizeable lead over the 2nd place Indians. Still, they've missed star outfielders Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert for most of the season. They're both expected to return before the season ends, but even then there's a spot in right for Bryant to play. The White Sox have the best record in the AL so they might think they have enough to get through the postseason, but it would be interesting to see if the Windy City's two teams would engage in a blockbuster trade of this magnitude.

It seems like a forgone conclusion that Bryant will be dealt at the deadline. Whoever acquires KB will have to give up top prospects, but he's one of the best hitters on the market. The Mets look to be the favorite as they've been linked with Bryant since the offseason. Still, we can't rule out other buyers like the Giants or Brewers. There are other teams that would be good matches for the third baseman, but the move just didn't fit with their direction. Bryant would slide right into the Rays lineup, but Tampa has a bigger history of trading away stars than trading for them. The Yankees would love Bryant, but their desire to stay under the luxury tax probably pushes them away from taking even the final half of his contract. No matter who he goes to, don't be surprised if KB makes an instant impact.

Author's Note (As of 8/22/2021): KB was in fact dealt to the San Francisco Giants at the deadline. The Mets and Brewers were shockingly quiet while the White Sox geared their focus to relief pitching, acquiring arms Craig Kimbrel and Ryan Tepera, ironically enough from the Cubs. Bryant has helped the Giants maintain a division lead over the red hot Dodgers, who pose the only threat after San Diego's recent fall off.