Kris Bryant

[Matt Breen]

This might be a crazy idea, so let me know what you think.

The Rockies are bad and they are paying Kris Bryant $28M next year, and $27M every year after that through 2028 - when he's 36. That's $136M.

Thus, you would think the Rockies might want to get out from under that contract. Of course, this is the Rockies - so maybe not. But let's speculate.

If the Brewers took on Bryant - how much would they have to pay him? This is the hard part. What's his value? 

I guess if you asked this question it might help: If Kris Bryant was a FA, and it required a five year deal to sign him - what would he be worth? 

Now, we know Bryant is not the MVP caliber player of his early days. But in 2021 he .265 and 25 HRs. In 2022 (his first with Colorado), he hit .306 - but only hit 5 HR in 42 games due to injuries. This year he's been hurt again - a heel bruise and then a fractured finger from a hit by pitch. He's hit a modest .251 with 8 HR in 66 games. 

So, we have a former MVP who turns 32 in January. Getting older - but not really old. He would fit in well in Milwaukee - playing 3B. But he's had some injuries and some bouts of ineffectiveness. 

So what does it take for Colorado to give Bryant to the Brewers? Is it even worth it? 

And before anyone says we'd only need to pay a minimal amount - let's just admit that won't work. Colorado is better off just hanging on to the guy and hoping he rebounds - making him tradeable during the season - or after 2024. Just saying that Colorado needs to pay down $125M of his salary - or something similar - doesn't fly.

Bryant would offer an intriguing bat in our lineup - and would fit in well at 3B. He could also move to 1B or DH or play OF down the road. But right now, he'd look good at 3B.

My thought is that the Brewers (or any other team), would need to take on around $10M per season of Bryant's salary. That's a $50M commitment. Too much? Too little? Not worth it? Would the Rockies even do such a thing?

Any sort of trade would be the Rockies including a bunch of money - and getting a D-grade prospect in return. So the cost for Bryant would simply be money. 

I haven't seen Bryant play for a couple of years - so perhaps some knowledge from those who have might help.

[sveumrules]

Brewers can't afford to tie up valuable payroll space plus give up some kind of prospect capital for a player that is constantly injured, even only $10M per year.

Players like Bryant are the ones who skew the dollar per free agent WAR equations the wrong way, -0.2 WAR for $46M so far. 

[jerichoholicninja]

Ya, no. You can't have Bryant and Yelich on the same team when they both really shouldn't be in the field and they both are going to be injured and/or playing hurt most of the season.

[nate82]

In order for this trade to work the Rockies would have to pay more than they did to "get rid" of Arenado.  So something like $75m of the remaining $131m on Bryant's contract.  That means the Brewers would be on the hook for $56m which is about $11.2m annually.  That would get you close to his current WAR value. 

It has also been 2-years since he has put up a decent stat line in 2021, though he has only played in just over 100 games since joining the Rockies.  The only just over 100 games is also an issue for a two year span.  Can Bryant stay healthy?  I am not sure that he can or will. 

If the Brewers could somehow get the Rockies to pay for the majority of Bryant's deal then sure make the trade but if the Brewers have to pay Bryant more than $15m a year then I think that would be a horrible deal for the Brewers. 

[owbc]

He sure looks like he can play tonight. I’m all for trying to do this, but it’s tricky because the Rockies (if they are smart) are going to want at least one decent prospect back in exchange for eating salary. 

[CheezWizHed]

I looked into Bryant at the trading deadline as I've always admired him as a player - perhaps jealousy when the Cubs had him at 3B and we had blackholes... 

But with the current direction of the team, I wouldn't touch him.  We have waves of rookies coming now... our $$ resources really need to be focused on Burnes/Woody/Adames. 

We have Black sitting at AAA and will probably be called up next year (some risk he might not play 3B, but he is there now).  Wilkins could also move up quickly. Monasterio has a nice floor at 3B.  And what Andruw produced this year is a bit better than what Bryant did in CO.  (AM: 242 ABs; 273/349/372; 97 OPS+; 1.6 bWAR vs KB: 251 ABs; 255/342/390; 90 OPS+; -0.4 bWAR).  And clearly KB has a higher upside, but that comes with significant injury risk as he only played 109 games in the last 2 years.

While we might still have a weak spot at 3B, Bryant doesn't bring us much upside for the salary and trade capitol it would require.  If he was a FA, I might entertain a slightly higher contract similar to Brian Anderson - a base contract with performance bonuses.  I don't know that I'd go more than $10M base for 1 or 2 years.  5 years would be a no-go.  Maybe Yelli's back issues have me gun-shy about adding another older player long term, but I'd prefer to go with the youth movement at this time and spend our resources trying to keep our current players.  

[Jim French Stepstool]

3 hours ago, CheezWizHed said:

 

We have Black sitting at AAA and will probably be called up next year (some risk he might not play 3B, but he is there now).  Wilkins could also move up quickly. Monasterio has a nice floor at 3B.  And what Andruw produced this year is a bit better than what Bryant did in CO.  (AM: 242 ABs; 273/349/372; 97 OPS+; 1.6 bWAR vs KB: 251 ABs; 255/342/390; 90 OPS+; -0.4 bWAR).  And clearly KB has a higher upside, but that comes with significant injury risk as he only played 109 games in the last 2 years.

 

This is where I'm at. Not only is Black in the organization, but it looks like Wilkin is able to handle being fast-tracked, and while I thought he might be moved to 1B that certainly doesn't appear to be necessary at this time. And Monasterio has come out of nowhere to be a pretty valuable asset.

I think anyone else interested in him would be willing to give up/pay more than we would. Or should.

[jay87shot]

I don't mind the idea of Kris Bryant however I doubt the money would work. To do a Bryant trade I feel like we would need to send out Yeli, get something else valuable back, and the Rockies would need to eat some of Bryant's deal.

I am not a huge fan of the trade simulator but a deal would have to be like Yeli for Bryant and Amador their top prospect and the Rockies eat about 50 million (I would probably do that as a Brewer fan) I doubt the Rockies would do that, it makes the most sense to keep Bryant and hopefully he stays healthy and can recoup some of his value.

[nate82]

1 hour ago, jay87shot said:

I don't mind the idea of Kris Bryant however I doubt the money would work. To do a Bryant trade I feel like we would need to send out Yeli, get something else valuable back, and the Rockies would need to eat some of Bryant's deal.

I am not a huge fan of the trade simulator but a deal would have to be like Yeli for Bryant and Amador their top prospect and the Rockies eat about 50 million (I would probably do that as a Brewer fan) I doubt the Rockies would do that, it makes the most sense to keep Bryant and hopefully he stays healthy and can recoup some of his value.

If the Brewers are trading Yelich for Bryant then there really wouldn't be a need for the Rockies to send money over.  Yelich is owed about $138m while Bryant is only owed about $131m (this is not taking into account any deferrals for either).  Even with the negative excess valuation for both Yelich and Bryant I don't believe either team would have to send over any money. 

Even in your last part Bryant would have to be outperforming his contract to be able to have any value at all.  If he just recovers to be about what his contract is the Rockies would still need to add some money.  I think an Arenado like trade is what it would take for the Rockies to move on from Bryant. 

 

[BrewerFan]

On 9/13/2023 at 9:25 AM, CheezWizHed said:

I looked into Bryant at the trading deadline as I've always admired him as a player - perhaps jealousy when the Cubs had him at 3B and we had blackholes... 

But with the current direction of the team, I wouldn't touch him.  We have waves of rookies coming now... our $$ resources really need to be focused on Burnes/Woody/Adames. 

We have Black sitting at AAA and will probably be called up next year (some risk he might not play 3B, but he is there now).  Wilkins could also move up quickly. Monasterio has a nice floor at 3B.  And what Andruw produced this year is a bit better than what Bryant did in CO.  (AM: 242 ABs; 273/349/372; 97 OPS+; 1.6 bWAR vs KB: 251 ABs; 255/342/390; 90 OPS+; -0.4 bWAR).  And clearly KB has a higher upside, but that comes with significant injury risk as he only played 109 games in the last 2 years.

While we might still have a weak spot at 3B, Bryant doesn't bring us much upside for the salary and trade capitol it would require.  If he was a FA, I might entertain a slightly higher contract similar to Brian Anderson - a base contract with performance bonuses.  I don't know that I'd go more than $10M base for 1 or 2 years.  5 years would be a no-go.  Maybe Yelli's back issues have me gun-shy about adding another older player long term, but I'd prefer to go with the youth movement at this time and spend our resources trying to keep our current players.  

Small market, limited resources. We're looking in the wrong direction to find a 3B. We've FINALLY got 3B on their way in AAA, AA, HiA.

33 year old injury prone FAs=Bad
Brewers=Loaded with young talent
3B=Black, Devanney-AAA, Monasterio-MLB, Wilken-Already at AA...seems like a hit just right out of the gate(though premature).

If you're going 2-3 years out, it's Boeve, Adams, Bitonti, Pratt(3B or SS), Baez, Guilarte among numerous others who could easily develop by the time those 5 years are up.

So, sure, 3B has been a black hole. We've been trying to address that and it appears as though we have in recent years. We've given significant signing bonuses and used premium draft capital to try and find corner IFers. 

 

The Brewers don't have much money, they can't spend it, even if it's a former MVP who we all respect and who's a great leader(which I'll argue Willy is the ultimate leader in keeping the clubhouse loose).

The three players you named are priorities...-however unlikely they may be to sign, and then I'd rate the priorities for their future resources as Chourio, Contreras(even if you trade him, a 5/50+1/2 options at ~20M would increase his value IMO) and then whoever is willing and worth it. Uribe seems like he'd be an ideal candidate, or Wiemer due to their minimal signing bonuses whereas Frelick may be less inclined to.

The Brewers have their own young superstars(or players I believe will be superstars) and I think it's just much more logical to try and keep the books clean for the future in order to try and sign those players. And I hope we are a bit more aggressive in retaining our own home grown players as we have with Lucroy, Ashby, Peralta...but have been unsuccessful in doing so with Burnes, Woodruff. 

[jay87shot]

19 hours ago, nate82 said:

If the Brewers are trading Yelich for Bryant then there really wouldn't be a need for the Rockies to send money over.  Yelich is owed about $138m while Bryant is only owed about $131m (this is not taking into account any deferrals for either).  Even with the negative excess valuation for both Yelich and Bryant I don't believe either team would have to send over any money. 

Even in your last part Bryant would have to be outperforming his contract to be able to have any value at all.  If he just recovers to be about what his contract is the Rockies would still need to add some money.  I think an Arenado like trade is what it would take for the Rockies to move on from Bryant. 

 

Again I don't like the mlb trade simulator but Bryant had like a -120 value and Yeli was like -40. I just added the 50 million so there weren't like 4 prospect to make the deal close on the website.