The San Francisco Giants are in first place with the best record in major league baseball. Five minutes before the trading deadline the Giants made a bigtime move to solidify their status.
The now ex-Cub comes to San Francisco as a “rental player”.
Bryant will be a free agent at the end of this season. The Giants are hoping for the big payoff right now.
To keep Bryant long term will be an expensive proposition
Kris Bryant has been the face of the Cubs franchise since being drafted No. 2 in 2013
San Francisco Chronicle 7.30.2021
Two years ago, Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi established that the closer to the trade deadline, the better, swinging five moves in the final minutes.
The Chronicle confirmed that with five minutes to go, the Giants obtained one of the top position players available, snagging former NL MVP Kris Bryant from the Cubs in exchange for two minor-leaguers. Bryant, 29, is a right-handed hitter who plays multiple positions and also provides power to a team that hasn’t produced as well against left-handed starters as righties. Bryant is batting .342 against lefties with a .429 on-base percentage, and he can play third, first and all three outfield spots.
Bryant, who was named to his fourth All-Star team this season, has an .861 OPS, 18 homers and 51 RBIs.
In another last-second deal, the Giants re-acquired lefty reliever Tony Watson in a deal with the Angels, according to multiple reports.
With deals potentially announced for another hour after the deadline, the Giants still could use starting pitching depth, and one by one Thursday and Friday, the big names have been heading elsewhere.
Zaidi had indicated that starting pitching would be the team’s priority leading up to the deadline, in part because the Giants have little in the way of rotation depth.
Lee's Perspective 