San Francisco makes a Giant move to nab Chicago’s Bryant
At the trade deadline’s final hour, one of its most inactive teams surprised everyone with a seismic move.
The San Francisco Giants traded for the Cubs’ Kris Bryant, long speculated as one of the top names who would get traded this summer. After watching their neighbors in Los Angeles and San Diego make moves of their own, the Giants decided they’d be the one to turn Bryant’s trade rumors into a sure thing.
To get the Cubs’ star, San
Francisco ditched two of their top 30 prospects. The Giants are exchanging outfielder Alexander Canario and right-handed pitcher Caleb Kilian to get Bryant. Neither is considered a Top 100 prospect in the league though, which, considering how special of a talent Bryant is, makes the return feel a little light.
Bryant was a true pillar of the Cubs’ famous rebuild that eventually brought the franchise its first championship in 108 years. Drafted in 2013 and called up in 2015, Bryant helped the Cubs to five playoff berths, more than they’d had in the previous 25 years. His accolades include the 2015 Rookie of the Year and 2016 MVP. Along with Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez (both of whom were traded to New York teams this week), Bryant was a staple of the Cubs’ infield during his time at Wrigley Field.
In recent years, though, Bryant’s versatility has become the stuff of legend. This year alone, he’s made at least 10 starts at third base, first base and every outfield spot. He is one of seven players since integration to accomplish that feat, and he did so before August. Make no mistake, though. Bryant isn’t just a light-hitting utilityman who fills
in around the diamond as needed. He’s got 18 home runs and a .503 slugging percentage this year while drawing a walk on just over 10 percent of his plate appearances.
Friday officially marked the end of the best era in modern Cubs history. The man who fielded the ground ball that ended the team’s championship drought is on his way to San Francisco, while the man who caught it is now a Yankee. It’s a stunning strip down for a club that won 95 games as recently as 2018. But in their removal of Bryant, Rizzo, Baez, and relievers Craig Kimbrel, Andrew Chafin and Ryan Tepera, the Cubs are trying to set themselves up for another version of the famed nucleus that brought a World Series parade to Chicago’s north side.
With Max Scherzer and Trea Turner wearing Dodger blue, Bryant heading to the Golden Gate. Báez joining the Mets, Craig Kimbrel crossing town to the White Sox, José Berríos moving north of the border, it truly was an All-Star trade deadline day.
After a run-up that saw the likes of Nelson Cruz, Anthony Rizzo, Joey Gallo and Adam Frazier swapped, even more big names changed teams during a whirlwind Friday.
Several playoff chasers pursued arms, with Toronto landing Berríos, Philadelphia getting Kyle Gibson and Ian Kennedy, Boston adding relievers Hansel Robles and Austin Davis, and St. Louis acquiring starters Jon Lester and J.A. Happ.
Atlanta got Adam Duvall, Jorge Soler and Eddie Rosario and reliever Richard Rodriguez.
The Nationals were busy, too. They traded away Scherzer and Turner, keys to their 2019 title, along with Lester, Yan Gomes and Josh Harrison. That came after they dealt Kyle Schwarber, Brad Hand and Daniel Hudson on Thursday.