Cubs and Mets highlight two bold predictions for the MLB off-season

It’s that time of year again. Time to roll out the big guns and start trading and signing like crazy. Let’s look at two possible blockbuster options.

With the World Series behind us, it’s time to look forward to the long and most likely frustrating off-season. Bryce Harper and Manny Machado will sign mega deals and huge trades are likely to take place.

Let’s take a look at two crazy deals that could happen before spring training starts that features the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs.

The Mets trade for Corey Kluber

It’s definitely a long shot, but anything is possible with their new GM.

My theory is that the Indians really want to move Corey Kluber now so that they can free up some salary and make some signings this off-season. Right now, Kluber is only guaranteed one more season with the Indians, and then he has two team options.

What if the Indians don’t offer the option next season or in 2021? Then the money they would have paid him would be free to spend. But what if the Indians want to spend that money now? As long as he stays with the Indians, there’s about $35 million locked in his 2020 and 2021 options that can’t be used now. It would be a waste if the Indians keep him for another season, then decided not to keep him.

They would be able to spend the money, but would have to wait a year or two to do so. If the Indians don’t plan on keeping him the full three years or want to spent the money now, it makes too much sense to trade him and get something in return and be able to put the money elsewhere.

Where would he be traded to? One option is the Mets. The idea was brought up by Buster Olney, and it does make sense for a number reasons. For starters, Kluber would be reunited with Mickey Callaway, who was the pitching coach with the Indians for five seasons. Some would say he was also the reason that Kluber became what he is today.

While the Mets do need hitters, adding Kluber to an already stacked rotation that includes Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard, the Mets rotation would become even better.

Lastly, if the Indians are more focused on salary, Kluber would be fairly cheap in terms of player cost. The Mets could probably get him by trading both David Peterson and Justin Dunn, and they would be on the hook for the remaining $53 million.

The Cubs trade Kris Bryant and sign Bryce Harper or Manny Machado

Another rumor that’s been floating around recently is the idea that the Cubs could possibly trade Kris Bryant. That too is a longshot, but it does make sense if the Cubs were serious about signing one of the top free agents, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado.

Bryant is a star, so that’s really the only way I see them trading him so that they can free up future money and put it towards someone else. In 2018, Bryant made nearly $11 million with a few years left before he hits free agency. Through arbitration, he could easily get anywhere between $15 and 20 million and warrant so much more once he’s a free agent.

The $10-20 million a year during his next three years would go a long way in bringing in a top star. Most likely, the star would be Harper as opposed to Machado, but Machado could be a solid replacement to Bryant.

Next. Could the Mets sign Andrew Miller?. dark

Otherwise, the Cubs would really have no excuse to even consider trading him. But if the Cubs take this path, it’s very likely that they could start next season with either Harper or Machado, and they could get a star in return for Bryant too seeing as he still has a few years left before free agency kicks in.

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