[ad_1]
The 2021 MLB regular season is more than halfway over and we are now in the summer heatwave. The 60-game sprint was fun in its own way last year given the circumstances. Give me the full experience of 162 games every day of the week.
Throughout the season, CBS Sports MLB scribes will bring you a weekly roundtable breaking down, well, just about everything. Breaking news, a historical question, thoughts on the future of baseball, all kinds of stuff. Last time around we saw the Home Run Derby. This week we will be anticipating next week’s trade deadline.
Who will be the biggest name traded by the deadline?
RJ Anderson: I think it has to be Kris Bryant or Trevor Story depending on what we know now, and how Max Scherzer may or may not be moved depending on how the Lerners have operated in the past. Of these, you can argue that Bryant is the “biggest name” in the sense that he has spent his entire career in Chicago and had more significant exposure in the playoffs. Either way, they’re both good players.
Matt Snyder: While I don’t think the Cubs are selling all of their big names, I think Craig Kimbrel and Kris Bryant are gone. I also agree that Trevor Story is going to go, so I guess it’s in between those three and which we think is the biggest name. It’s probably Bryant, given he was the MVP the year the Cubs won the World Series. He’s still on the team only thanks to the Cubs who manipulated his serving time in 2015. Of course, he’s also increased his value this season after a 2020 year. The biggest thing about Bryant this year is that he has shown the ability to play capable defense even in center field, so now you are looking at a guy who can play third, outfield and first three spots. This must be appealing to many teams looking for an impact bat.
Catherine Acquavella: If I have to choose, I’ll go with Kris Bryant. All signs are that the Cubs are staying true to their refusal to expand the main players, and when you combine that with the fact that Bryant’s versatility is going to be extremely sought after, a trade seems extremely likely. The Giants and Mets are clubs that could certainly benefit from the depth Bryant could add to an outfield and / or first and third goals. An MVP and four-time All-Star who also has a solid 2021 so far (.264 / .346 / .489), he’ll be an upgrade for any team in the league. There’s a decent amount of other big names (Max Scherzer, Joey Gallo, Nelson Cruz) floating around the trade deadline rumor mill, but Bryant appears to be the biggest name to move later this month. .
Dayn Perry: I will say Bryant. I’m not convinced the Rockies will trade Story (not that he’s necessarily a bigger name than Bryant), and I think Max Scherzer is sticking around. So it’s Bryant. I think Joey Gallo will be the most productive player to be traded so far, but I think Bryant will be the biggest name. It has rebounded well and its defensive flexibility is expanding the market for its services. Moreover, the Cubs seem determined to demolish it.
Mike Axisa: “Biggest Name” is subjective and we can wonder if Kris Bryant or Craig Kimbrel is the biggest name. Anyway, I think the two are traded. I’m going to step off the board a bit and say that Byron Buxton will be the biggest name traded. The Twins are trying to sign him long-term but there doesn’t seem to be any traction, and even though his value is going down because he’s injured, I think they’ll get more for an injured Buxton now (that’s i.e. his new team gets him for two playoffs) than they would for a theoretically healthy Buxton in the offseason or next year’s trade deadline (i.e. that is, his new team only gets it for one playoff series). There would be no shortage of contenders (Astros, Braves, Giants, Mets, Red Sox, Yankees, etc.), enough for the Twins to get a solid comeback despite the injury. I will say Buxton is the biggest name out of place.
[ad_2]
Source link