Cubs trade rumor: Nationals interested in Kris Bryant

Earlier Tuesday, I took note of this Kris Bryant trade rumor at MLB.com:

In fact, the Nationals have made an initial inquiry to the Cubs about trading for third baseman Kris Bryant, sources say.

Bryant is among the top position player trade candidates in baseball this winter, and industry sources said Monday that there’s a better chance of the Cubs trading Bryant than the Indians dealing shortstop Francisco Lindor.

The article goes on to note that any KB trade might have to wait until the third-base free-agent market (Anthony Rendon and Josh Donaldson) is settled, and also for the final decision on Bryant’s service-time grievance.

So nothing’s imminent along these lines.

Let’s speculate a little, though. What would the Cubs ask for from the Nats in return for Bryant?

The first name you’re going to mention is Juan Soto, and even with Bryant’s value, I don’t think the Nationals would give Soto in return.

But I do think Victor Robles would be the next starting point of an ask for Bryant, and Robles had a fine rookie year, hitting .255/.326/.419 with 17 home runs and 28 stolen bases. That was a 4.1 bWAR season. He’d slot in nicely into center field for the Cubs.

Next on my list is top Nats prospect Carter Kieboom. Kieboom hit .303/.409/.493 with 16 home runs in 109 games at Triple-A Fresno. He’s primarily a shortstop, but he did play some third base at Fresno and could possibly take over at third base for the Cubs, replacing Bryant. Plus, “Kieboom” is a great baseball name.

Things bog down a little here. One thing I’d want in return for Bryant would be a young, controllable starting pitcher with some MLB experience. The Nats don’t really have anyone like that unless you consider Erick Fedde. Fedde turns 27 in February and has had some limited success as a starter in Washington. Joe Ross, who is a few months younger than Fedde, has more big-league experience and some success. By spring 2020 he will be two years recovered from Tommy John surgery.

Lastly, to help out the 2020 Cubs bullpen, I’d ask the Nationals to send over Sean Doolittle . Doolittle has one year left on his contract at a relatively affordable $6.5 million. He’d be some insurance for any failures by Craig Kimbrel. Also, Doolittle is an awesome human being and he and his wife Eireann Dolan live in Chicago in the offseason. He’d be an instant fan favorite as well as providing good lefthanded relief.

Kris Bryant for Victor Robles, Carter Kieboom, Joe Ross and Sean Doolittle. Who says no?