Mets & Cubs
Submitted by: Jack_S
Mets
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kris Bryant | 29 | Majors | 3B | OF | High | 1 | 22.3 | 19.5 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 3.4 |
Total Value:
2.8
Cubs
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JD Davis | 28 | Majors | 3B | 1B | Medium | 4 | 31.2 | 10.5 | 20.1 | 12.1 | 16.1 | 20.1 |
| Jeurys Familia | 31 | Majors | RHRP | Medium | 1 | 0 | 13 | -13 | -13 | -13 | -10.4 | |
| Thomas Szapucki | Minors | LHP | 2.4 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 2.9 |
Total Value:
2
Comments
11
I like the trade for the Cubs. Deadline Trades of pitchers is always easier than position players and by turning Bryant into two tradeable candidates, the risk of injury is lessened. Injury risk is not an insignificant consideration with Bryant.
This is a really interesting deal, and the fact that the money balances will hopefully assure fans that the Cubs aren't thinking of Bryant as a simple salary dump. Like mp2891, pitchers, especially relievers, move easier at the deadline so if Betances and/or Familia bounce back, they could get some more lottery tickets to add to the ones they got in the Darvish trade. My only concern is that Chicago already an albatross reliever in Kimbrel so they may not want to add more expensive bullpen pieces. On the other hand, the Cubs have very few MLB ready arms in the minors so it neither Familia nor Betances would be stealing someone's spot. All in all, good trade, well done.
it’s hard to see Cubs taking on salary when they made it clear they are trying to dump it.
They might agree to take one of those overpriced relievers , I would doubt both and as for Davis good hit no field is why Mets want Bryant. Bryant is way under valued and a little overpriced ,if he goes to 2019 All Star performance Mets have much better Team . With the team roster as is you might need Davis to platoon in LF with Smith.
Why do they have to platoon Smith and Davis? I've never watched a Mets game so I don't know if the eye test has different results, but looking at both players RH vs. LH pitcher splits, neither struggles against either handed pitcher. Smith even put up a .900 OPS against lefties and 1.032 against righties last season, and an .876 OPS on lefties and .882 on righties in 2019. Compare that a strictly platoon guy like Joc Pederson (2019: .505 against LH vs. .920 against RH), and Smith really doesn't have to platoon. In fact, based on how Davis and Smith have faired versus lefties these past two seasons, I'd take Smith over Davis.
I figure the Cubs would be going for some more long-term upside somewhere in this deal. Maybe it's through paying down some of Bryant's money (the budget did reportedly expand a little in recent weeks) and sneaking in a younger prospect in lieu of Szapucki. Maybe it's through foregoing Davis for a prospect.
The money is essentially the same going in both directions (Cubs save a little bit of actual cash, Mets take on a few Mil in the luxury tax). Mets get Bryant to beef up an already strong lineup and hope for a bounce-back and an opportunity to re-sign him, while shedding the salaries of Betances and Familia. The idea would be to backfill these spots with some of the many veteran arms still available. Cubs get 4 years of control on Davis along with a high floor controllable arm in Szapucki. Betances and Familia are counterweights, but both are also live arms on 1 year deals and could hold some deadline value if the team falls out of contention
NEWSLETTER? SURE, SIGN ME UP!
Perhaps their money woes have lessen after having dealt Darvish? I mean, they've already spent more in free agency this year on Pederson, Holder and Williams (combined $10.25M) than in 2019 ($3.8M) and 2018 ($9.65M). Additionally, by making the trade roughly cash neutral, the Cubs can work against the narrative that they are trying to dump Bryant's salary. If they were to trade Bryant and get a return of lottery tickets like in the Darvish trade or a single prospect valued close to his 2.8 BTV value, Cubs fans would be in uproar over trading the guy who was arguably the face of their franchise for spare change. At least in this deal, they get a couple of relievers that immediately contribute to the MLB team, a controllable replacement 3B, and a near ready SP prospect to add to a thin rotation. A package like this at least makes them seem like they plan on competing.
still don’t see it. Not both contracts to to get Davis. even families seems excessive. There is a reason all Mets fans are trying to dump Davis