Amid increasing industry chatter that the Cubs will trade Kris Bryant as soon as this weekend, the Mets and Cubs have not spoken in several weeks, according to league sources.
Those talks occurred before the Mets knew that they would acquire an even brighter star in shortstop Francisco Lindor. Bryant is set to earn nearly $19 million this year.
The Mets prefer to stay under the $210 million luxury tax threshold, and would not be able to accommodate Bryant’s salary without shedding payroll in a trade.
If the Mets were to resume Bryant trade talks -- which is difficult to imagine -- they would be behind other teams who are pursuing him more aggressively.
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