Cubs closer Craig Kimbrel and Nationals ace Max Scherzer headline Alex Pavlovic and Cole Kuiper’s list of “dream” MLB trade deadline targets for the Giants.
The Giants reportedly have their eyes on former National League MVP Kris Bryant.
MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported Tuesday night, citing sources, that the Giants have "spoken" to the Chicago Cubs at the versatile Bryant.
Morosi also reported that the Cubs are "evaluating" Giants' top prospect Joey Bart as a possible return in a trade.
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Morosi reported that Bart only would be available in a trade between the two teams if the Giants were acquiring other player(s) from the Cubs due to Bryant's impending free agency.
As NBC Sports Bay Area's Alex Pavlovic wrote earlier on Tuesday, Bryant would be a perfect fit for the Giants because of his ability to play multiple positions.
This season alone, Bryant has played at least 10 games at first base, third base, center field, right field and left field. He's hitting .269/.356/.500 with 19 doubles, 17 homers and 50 RBI this season.
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Bryant won the NL Rookie of the Year in 2015, the NL MVP in 2016 and has been named to four All-Star teams during his seven-year MLB career.
The 29-year-old Bryant is a free agent at the end of the 2021 season, so the Giants would be acquiring him for the playoff push, and ideally, a deep postseason run.
Bart played in 33 games for the Giants last year due to Buster Posey opting not to play during the pandemic-shortened season and injuries at the catcher position. But this year, Posey is back and having a resurgent season while Curt Casali has been an admirable back-up, leaving the former No. 2 overall draft pick stuck at Triple-A Sacramento.
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Bart did come up to San Francisco for two games at the end of the first half of the season, and collected two hits in six at-bats.
While the Giants don't have a spot for Bart in the big leagues right now, he is tearing the cover off the ball for the River Cats. In 44 games, .310/.372/.532 with 11 doubles, nine homers and 38 RBI.
The Giants and Cubs have until Friday to work out a deal, if there is one to be made.
