Cubs Move All-Stars Bryant, Baez and Kimbrel In Deadline Deals

CHICAGO — After the Chicago Cubs endured an 11-game losing streak that dropped them from first place to fourth place in the National League Central Division before the All-Star break, team President Jed Hoyer indicated that life comes at you pretty fast.

In a span of less than 24 hours, four familiar faces disappeared from the Cubs roster, including three that played key roles in the team’s 2016 World Series championship team.

After trading first baseman Anthony Rizzo to the New York Yankees on Thursday, shortstop Javier Baez, closer Craig Kimbrel and third baseman/outfielder Kris Bryant were all dealt on Friday just ahead of the Major League Baseball trade deadline.

Kimbrel was the first to go, being traded from Chicago’s North Side to the South Side in a deal that brought the Cubs second baseman Nick Madrigal. As soon as the Cubs secured Madigral — a move that is expected to move Nico Hoerner to shortstop, Hoyer dealt away another fan favorite, Baez and right-handed pitcher Trevor Williams — who were traded to the New York Mets for one of the team's top prospects.

The Mets sent outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, who is ranked as the Mets' fifth-ranked prospect who was the 19th overall pick in the 2020 draft. He sustained a shoulder injury in May after appearing in six games with the Mets' Single-A affiliate in Port Lucie, Fla., where he was hitting .417 before the injury.

Before leaving Washington on Friday, Baez was asked if he considered returning to the Cubs once the season is complete.

"To be honest I would love to, but I don't know," Baez told reporters. "I don't know what will happen this offseason with all these moves and the plan that this organization has. ...I'm just grateful for everything they've done for me and my family."

Just minutes before Friday’s 3 p.m. deadline, multiple reports indicated that Bryant, the former National League Most Valuable Player, had been traded to the San Francisco Giants. Bryant was at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., when the deal got completed, according to reports.

Video surfaced of Bryant on the phone in the Cubs dugout before he hung up and appeared to be crying before heading the Cubs clubhouse to say goodbye to his teammates.

Earlier this week, Bryant told reporters that he was prepared for anything as the deadline drew nearer. Bryant has been one of the most heavily discussed trade pieces for much of the season and was widely expected to be traded before Friday's deadline.

“Some of this stuff is just exhausting. It really is,” Bryant told reporters. “And I’m just trying to do my best to keep my focus where it needs to be and help whoever I can along the way here and just take everything in stride. And whatever happens, it’s out of my control.”

MLB.com reported Friday afternoon that the Giants will send outfielder Alexander Canario (the Giants' No. 9-ranked prospect per MLBPipeline and right-handed pitcher Caleb Killian (No. 30) to Chicago in exchange of Bryant.

In a more minor deal, the Cubs also announced that they have acquired right-handed pitcher Anderson Espinoza from the San Diego Padres in exchange for outfielder Jake Marisnick.

The Cubs, who Rizzo told reporters Thursday, are likely in for a long second half of the season, are now facing a rebuilding plan similar to the one they went through ahead of the 2016 championship that ended a 108-year title drought.

On Friday, Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts issued a statement, thanking Rizzo, Bryant and Baez for their years with the team.

"Together they played critical roles for one fo the most successful runs in Chicago Cubs history," Ricketts said. "They each secured a place in the hearts of Cubs fans everywhere. While their days taking the field as Cubs have come to san end, they gave us memories we will hold forever."

The trading of Bryant and Kimbrel was expected but moving Rizzo on Thursday came as a bit of a surprise to fans. Bryant, Baez and Kimbrel all join first-place teams in their respective divisions while the Yankees will make a push for the second Wild Card spot in the American League.

Asked Friday what the past 24 hours have been like within the Cubs clubhouse, manager David Ross didn't mince words.

"Emotional. Emotional is the first word that comes to mind," Ross told reporters in Washington, where the Cubs will face the Nationals this weekend. "Sad. Difficult. A lot of negative words that I usually don't like to use."