Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez wasn’t shy about his team’s interest in Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant.
“He’s a very good player,” Martinez said Tuesday during a conference call. “We like him a lot. Unfortunately, he’s a Cub.
“His name definitely has come up in conversations, and like I said, he’s an unbelievable player. He’s definitely a premier player in this league.”
The Nationals, who failed to make the playoffs in 2020 following their World Series title, are looking for a slugger to strengthen their offense and provide support to Juan Soto and Trea Turner.
Bryant, 28, fits the profile because of his credentials that include being a former National League MVP and his ability to play third base, where the Nationals received subpar production from 23-year-old Carter Kieboom, who batted .202 in 99 at-bats but can play shortstop and second.
Martinez, a Cubs coach from 2015-17 under Joe Maddon, seemed pleasantly surprised there have been discussions involving Bryant, who is projected to earn around $20 million in 2021 but can become a free agent in 2022.
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo, however, tempered the thought of acquiring Bryant this winter.
“We haven’t had a serious conversation about Kris Bryant for two years,” Rizzo told reporters during a conference call.
Martinez appreciates that Rizzo allows him to provide his input on players with the rest of the front office.
“We bang our heads together and see what fits best, not only on the field but also in the clubhouse,” Martinez said. “We’re also a big believer in culture, and I want to get guys that are the right fit.”
Despite their slip-up in 2020, the Nationals remain in win-now mode with a rotation of Stephen Strasburg, Max Scherzer and Patrick Corbin. And adding a bat of Bryant’s caliber would enhance their chances.
“One thing this year, there a lot of big names out there, a lot of big bats out there,”Martinez said. “There are a lot of non-tender guys that can be helpful. We’re looking at a lot of different avenues.”
The Cubs need to restock their rotation with young, controllable pitchers and add contact hitters after many of their top hitters struck out at a rate of more than 25% last season.
Bryant has a career .280 average with 142 home runs and an .889 OPS in six seasons with the Cubs, but an array of injuries limited him to a .206 average with four home runs in 34 games during a truncated 60-game season.
Martinez sounded puzzled at the possibility the Cubs are willing to move a player of Bryant’s caliber as they retool their roster.
“It’s hard for me to fathom,” Martinez said. “Of course, we won the World Series in 2016 but even in 2015 with the group that we had, even making the playoffs then, when they thought we were maybe a fourth or fifth-place team because we were so young. And then win in 2016 and making the playoffs again in 2017, and where they’re at (now), it’s tough.”
Martinez acknowledged the Cubs still have plenty of players who helped them win three division titles in six seasons.
“I’ve been in this game a long time to know that’s part of baseball, and that’s part of this game,” said Martinez, who played for the Cubs from 1986-88 and 2000. “Unfortunately, that’s just the way it is, and it’s people running this game and see things the way they see them, and that’s the direction they’re going in.
“I’ve had an unbelievable history with the Cubs, but my focus is now the Washington Nationals and taking this team to another championship here next year and for years to come.”
