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MLB Trades: Five bold predictions for the 2020 season

By Lucas Friedman

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 29: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox looks on after the Red Sox defeat Baltimore Orioles 5-4 at Fenway Park on September 29, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 29: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox looks on after the Red Sox defeat Baltimore Orioles 5-4 at Fenway Park on September 29, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Predicting Five Bold MLB Trades

Cubs hold on to Bryant, send Schwarber to the cross-town White Sox

Unless your name is Javier Baez, nobody is safe on the Chicago Cubs’ roster this offseason. To put it nicely, the Cubs had a disappointing season. They missed the playoffs for the first time since 2015. Joe Maddon is out as manager, and David Ross is in. Things are changing for the Cubs, and it is clear that some major MLB trades are in their near future.

Two big names have been floated around in the media as potential blockbuster candidates. Those two are former MVP Kris Bryant and all-star catcher Wilson Contreras. The rumor mill has been exploding for these two, and for good reason. They would both garner a steep price, and some teams might be willing to pay.

However, Bryant’s market might be limited by the presence of Anthony Rendon, Josh Donaldson, and Mike Moustakas on the free-agent market. With a player of his caliber, he would most likely be targeted by true contenders looking to compete for a championship now. With a wealth of third basemen available, contenders might elect to use their money to buy a free agent rather than sacrificing pieces to acquire Bryant.

Contreras could be appealing to any team looking for a catcher, but it is hard to see the Cubs parting ways with him or Bryant just yet.

However, one player who has a reasonable case to be traded is Kyle Schwarber. Schwarber is under contract through the 2020 season until he is eligible for arbitration. He is only owed $8 million, which is attractive for a team looking for a power-hitting left-handed bat. The Chicago White Sox are looking for just that.

The south side Chicago counterparts of the Cubs appear to be in the market for a power-hitting outfielder from the left side. They are equipped with Eloy Jimenez on one corner of the outfield, who they got from the Cubs in the Jose Quintana trade. If the Cubs wish to return the favor and poach some of the White Sox’s young talent, Kyle Schwarber would be a perfect fit. Besides, it always seemed like Schwarber fit better in the American League, where he can spend time as a designated hitter.

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