Morning Marquee: Chicago Cubs’ Kris Bryant saves a fan $850

Mike Kennedy is an avid collector of baseball memorabilia, especially of MLB prospects. When he had the opportunity to buy a game used bat for $850, he wanted to be sure it was smart buy, so he reached out to Chicago Cubs prospect Kris Bryant on Twitter to be sure. The result? Bryant sent him a bat, free of charge. Kennedy isn’t even a Cubs fan, although it’s likely he’ll be one now. There’s a lot to like about Bryant, go ahead and add this to that list.

The Silver Slugger awards were handed out on Thursday, and five sets of teammates took home the award, given to the best hitter at each position. The Giants, White Sox, Indians, Pirates and Nationals each had two winners, while there were eight first-time recipients. Some notables were the Astros Jose Altuve, who ended Robinson Cano‘s four-year run, as well as the Giants battery of Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner.

More from Cubbies Crib

Cubs’ owner Tom Ricketts discussed Theo Epstein’s contract in an interview on 670 AM WSCR, as well as several other topics, and gave a vote of confidence to the job Epstein has done. The hiring of Joe Maddon, with the Hot Stove season ahead, could make for an exciting winter in Chicago. Epstein’s deal runs through 2016, but Rickett’s said  “Obviously I think the world of Theo and his team. He’s got a couple years left on his contract, and when he’s ready to talk about an extension, we’ll be ready talk.”

Here are some of the stories you may have missed:

‘Silver Slugger Awards honor games top mashers’ – MLB.com

‘How Kris Bryant saved a fan $850’ – MLB.com

‘Chicago Cubs’ Tom Ricketts talks Joe Maddon, Theo Epstein’ – Cubbies Crib

‘Roster, schedule set for MLB-Japan All-Star series‘ – Call to the Pen

‘Padres Everth Cabrera in more legal trouble’ – Friars on Base