MLB Rumors: Nationals Interested in Cubs' Kris Bryant

Bryant is coming off by far the worst season of his career, when he batted just .206 with four homers and 11 RBIs.

The Nationals are interested in trading for Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, according to MLB.com's Jon Morosi.

Bryant, 28, is coming off by far the worst season of his career, when he batted just .206 with four homers and 11 RBIs. With one year to go before he becomes a free agent and the decrease in revenue because of the pandemic-shortened season, there is speculation that the Cubs could either non-tender him next month of trade him this winter rather than pay him the $19 million he's projected to get after arbitration.

Still, getting rid of a player of Bryant's caliber—a three-time All-Star, the 2015 NL Rookie of the Year and 2016 MVP—just to shed salary without getting anything in return seems unlikely, even when considering baseball's bleak financial outlook.

Bryant was limited to just 34 of the 60 regular-season games this year with wrist, finger and oblique injuries. He injured his ankle on a wet base in September 2019, and he had a nagging shoulder throughout the second half of the 2018 season.

The Nationals are in need of a third baseman after losing Anthony Rendon to the Angels in free agency last December. Washington third basemen hit a combined 204/.325/.250 with two home runs this season. The Nationals finished last in the NL East this season, one year after winning the first World Series championship in franchise history.

Keep up with the latest news and rumors around MLB:

• The Dodgers have shown interest in trading for Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado this offseason. The 2020 World Series champions reportedly have long been interested in acquiring Arenado. (Jon Morosi, MLB.com)
• The Tampa Bay Rays designated outfielder Hunter Renfroe for assignment. They added outfielder Josh Lowe, pitcher Drew Strotman and infielder Taylor Walls to their 40-man roster, and also DFA'd outfielder and infielder Brian O'Grady.
• The Pittsburgh Pirates made room on its 40-man roster by designating pitcher Trevor Williams and infielder and outfielder José Osuna for assignment. The Pirates added infielder Rodolfo Castro and pitcher Max Kranick to their 40-man roster. (Rob Biertempfel, The Athletic)
• The Orioles designated Renato Núñez to clear space for six prospects on their 40-man roster. Núñez led the O's in homers over the past two seasons. (Joe Trezza, MLB.com)
• The Yankees are leaning toward tendering catcher Gary Sanchez a contract. (Bob Klapisch, Newark Star-Ledger)
• The Dodgers will face the Rockies as part of MLB's Opening Day quadruple-header on Thursday, April 1.
• Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman had his suspension for throwing near the head of the Rays' Mike Brosseau reduced from three games to two after his appeal. 
• Free-agent infielder DJ LeMahieu wants to stay in New York, putting both the Yankees and Mets on his list of potential clubs to sign with. LeMahieu turned down the Yankees' qualifying offer this offseason, and the two sides have not "advanced very far in their discussions to date." (Ken Davidoff, New York Post)
• The Angels are among the teams interested in free-agent pitcher J.A. Happ. (Jon Morosi, MLB Network)