Colorado Rockies: Exploring a Nolan Arenado for Kris Bryant trade

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Put simply, if the Rockies could trade Arenado for Bryant straight up, they should do it in an instant.

It would save them money in the short-term in which they could spend on adding more offense—something they drastically need. This trade idea would also help the Rockies move around some parts. They could limit Ian Desmond‘s at bats at first, move Bryant into the outfield where the Rockies don’t have a third starter or keep him at third base though both Ryan McMahon and Brendan Rodgers should be viable options there in 2019. Bryant would fit on Blake very nicely.

Could these teams pull off a straight-up swap? Probably not. Given Bryant’s contract team friendliness the Rockies would have to add more. And when the whole idea for the Cubs to trade Bryant was to save themselves cash down the line, adding Arenado’s current higher salary to the books doesn’t make much sense.

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Ultimately, this idea breaks down rather quickly. And from a Rockies perspective, no matter of logical team budding and that most projection systems have Bryant rebounding to once again be better, Arenado has been the more valuable player for the past two years. Selling him and also having to add something to it for a player at the same position isn’t an easy sell to fans no matter the control.

Whether the Rockies should trade Arenado is valid discussion, even though it probably won’t happen. If they could get a player like Bryant for him, maybe that makes it easier.

Whose to say, but if it’s you in General Manager Jeff Bridich’s shoes, would you trade Nolan Arenado for Kris Bryant?