Atlanta Braves can afford to waiting on further roster additions
It all comes to this
The real problem in doing so might be the exact same reason that the Cubs have been exploring trades involving Kris Bryant over the entire Winter: money.
If current projections of Spotrac.com are correct, the Cubs will find themselves $4 million above the $208 milllion luxury tax threshold for the 2020 season when the season begins.
In truth, it’s more than just about a simple overage, for this would be a second consecutive year in that territory for the Cubs – incurring a 30% penalty for the overage.
More importantly, this would place Chicago in the position of flirting with a 50% rate in 2021 as a 3-time offender… and Bryant’s salary could rise to near-record levels then.
There is push-back, though: Cub fans – and even some players – are noting that their “window” is closing soon: contracts of Jon Lester, Craig Kimbrel, Anthony Rizzo and the arbitration years of Kyle Schwarber and Bryant could all end after 2021… thus the idea of trading Bryant at all is not their preference.
So if the team moves their All-Star/MVP third baseman… it’s got to be for money … and players. But certainly to offload that money. The real problem for the Cubs is that they are nearing the end – and the are ignoring that reality.
Still, trying to offload cash simply may not work with the teams that are the most needy in the NL East. Such a deal would only serve to take Chicago’s troubles and transfer them elsewhere.
Spotrac currently projects the following luxury tax numbers for the NL East:
- Phillies $202.4m
- Mets $195.0m
- Nats $194.6m
- Braves $175.2m
Bryant is set to make $18.6 million in 2020 and these NL East clubs – while they technically could afford the money for Bryant – are at least as reluctant to exceed the $208m mark as the Cubs are… and 3 of them would be over the mark with Bryant added.
It gets worse for one of these, too.