SAN DIEGO — The Cubs won’t “force” the action as they look at potential trades of their big-league core, team president Theo Epstein said. And that might even mean star third baseman Kris Bryant is still with the team when they open the season on March 26.
In fact, two would-be trade partners, the Phillies and Nationals, are out until further notice, when it comes to Bryant, according to sources. That leaves the Angels and Braves as the top landing spots in a musical-chairs exercise that also involves free agents Anthony Rendon and Josh Donaldson.
But even if Bryant is still in a Cubs uniform by the opener, his long-term status with the club remains in significant limbo.