2 reasons Atlanta Braves should trade for Kris Bryant

Now that Kris  Bryant has lost his grievance, will the Atlanta Braves look into acquiring the former MVP?

Throughout the offseason, the Atlanta Braves have been mentioned as one of the teams who could look into acquiring Kris Bryant from the Chicago Cubs.

Bryant, who won the NL MVP in 2016, hit 31 home runs and had 77 RBI last season, while also playing a well below-average third base (-7 DRS, -1.4 UZR).

Much of the holdup, however, was how many years of control Bryant would have on his contract. If Bryant won his grievance against the Cubs, he would have just a year left before free agency. He lost, so he still has two years of team control.

It was reported Tuesday that Bryant lost that grievance, which more than likely signals the end of his time in Chicago—whether that be before the season or in July.

The Cubs have not been particularly active this offseason, mainly due to wanting to cut payroll and Bryant’s name has been at the forefront of those who could be moved.

At this point, the Braves options at third base are Johan Camargo and Austin Riley, so Bryant would definitely be an upgrade. More on that later…

Even though the Braves signed Marcell Ozuna to be the power bat in their lineup, there is still a way for them to acquire Bryant and his $18 million dollar contract.

It would obviously involve cutting money, either via trade or non-tenders, but the Braves could easily find $18 million.

In the following slides, there are two significant reasons why the Braves should be aggressive in trying to trade for Bryant, who would firmly cement the Braves as a World Series contender.