Main SF Giants prospect involved in Kris Bryant trade has been DFA'd

The Chicago Cubs recently designated outfielder Alexander Canario for assignment. Canario was the primary prospect the SF Giants sent to the Cubs in exchange for Kris Bryant back in 2021, so it seems San Francisco may have won the trade.

The Cubs decided to designate him for assignment in order to make room for veteran infielder Justin Turner who Chicago just signed. The 24-year-old only played in 21 games for the Cubs so if another team acquires him, the Cubs may end up being the clear losers of the Bryant trade.

Former SF Giants prospect involved in Kris Bryant trade has been DFA'd

Right before the trade deadline in 2021 as the Giants were in the middle of a historic and record-breaking regular season, the Giants traded Canario and right-handed pitcher Caleb Killian to the Cubs in exchange for Bryant.

The Giants made the move to remain competitive with the Los Angeles Dodgers who had swung a trade for pitcher Max Scherzer and shortstop Trea Turner. Bryant played pretty well in the regular season for the Giants, slashing .262/.344/.444 with seven home runs and 22 RBI in 51 games played.

In the NLDS against the Dodgers, Bryant was arguably the best hitter on the team as he recorded eight hits in the five-game series including a home run in Game 1. Ultimately, his efforts were not enough as the Giants lost in heartbreaking fashion.

The Giants decided to not bring Bryant back in the offseason following that heartbreaking defeat. He ended up signing a lucrative $182 million seven-year contract with the Colorado Rockies, but that contract has aged very poorly which shows the Giants dodged a major bullet by not bringing Bryant back.

The 33-year-old has only played in 159 games over the last three seasons as a member of the Rockies. He has slashed .250/.332/.381 with 17 homers and 60 RBI in his time with Colorado. It seems like the Giants got out just in time and were able to get the last good baseball out of Bryant before he declined and got injured repeatedly.

On the flip side of that coin, the Cubs only got 21 games out of Canario in which he has slashed .286/.333/.524 with two homers and eight RBI. Those are solid numbers, but it seems the Cubs may have just not had the room for Canario on the team. Killian has appeared in just eight games in his time with the Cubs and has a career ERA of 9.22.

So, neither side completely won the trade, but the Giants seem to have gotten the better side of the deal at this point. It would be the ultimate irony if the Giants were able to trade for or claim Canario while he is on waivers, but given the fact the Giants already have a fair number of young outfielders on the 40-man roster that seems unlikely.

Nonetheless, the Giants can at least feel good that, as of right now, they did not give up the next Juan Soto when they traded for Kris Bryant back in 2021.