As I said this morning, yesterday’s report on the “recent” trade negotiations between the Cubs and Mets in Kris Bryant was later updated to remove the word “recent”. That seemed like a significant change, as having had trade negotiations in, say, November is a far cry from having happened last week, when the world has changed a lot for both teams.
Well, now there’s a report from New York:
Recently, there was a dialogue between the Mets and the Cubs about Kris Bryant. The Cubs really like catcher Francisco Alvarez, one of the Mets’ biggest contenders. Sandy Alderson indicated yesterday that he is not negotiating the best prospects.
– Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) January 8, 2021
This report not only confirms the conversations, and not only puts the word “recent” back there, but it also cites a name on the other side: get the Francisco Alvarez prospectus.
Alvarez, 19, is indeed a potential customer on the Mets system, and probably one of the top 100 in most services as well. By MLB Pipeline, he is actually ranked forward by Brailyn Marquez and Brennen Davis. So yes, it would definitely be the Mets giving up on a great candidate, which it certainly looks like they would hate to do, even in a deal for Bryant.
So, why mention the name? Why would a New York report be named after a potential customer that the Cubs like in negotiations for Bryant? If I had to guess, it might be because Mets kind of wants them not to be willing to give up on a potential client like Alvarez for Bryant … but, instead, would they give up something less? Like maybe a great league player or a lower prospect? In general, I can think of pieces “smaller” than Alvarez that would be a “fair” return for Bryant, even though the Cubs are keeping the price high. So this is kind of weird.
Also strange? Jon Heyman released this, by the way, at about the same time as Puma’s tweet:
Kris Bryant should have more market than he seems to have: 0.889 OPS for life, brings flexibility (can play all 3 OF positions in addition to 3B), 1 year to go at a very reasonable rate (about $ 18-19M).
– Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 8, 2021
Is anyone out there just trying to kick Bryant’s conversations? Or is this just a little post-trade drama from the Mets? Or is Mets trying to pressure a free agent to sign? Stay tuned, I think. It was immediately after the Fathers switched to a big arm that this kind of “ah, wait, there are actually more” things started popping up about Yu Darvish.
In addition: I would not read much about the Cubs supposedly interested in an attractive perspective. At just 19, Alvarez is not a guy you would want because – for example – you are buying Willson Contreras. Instead, it would just be a matter of getting the best potential customer. And if you really like Alvarez’s club, then so be it.