Chicago Cubs: How Kris Bryant almost became a Toronto Blue Jay

A long time ago, Chicago Cubs superstar almost became a member of the Toronto Blue Jays. His decision to instead attend college had a league-wide impact.

Drafted by Toronto in the 18th round of the 2010 MLB Amateur player draft out of high school, future Chicago Cubs star Kris Bryant failed to sign. Looking back, this lone decision not only impacted these two teams, but all of Major League Baseball.

Trying to imagine what it feels like seeing the one who got away must be a strange prospect. If you are a Major League Baseball team, it is more difficult as that great white buffalo could be the guy to change your entire franchise.

Kris Bryant was a star at Bonanza High School in Las Vegas. One of many future franchise players, in fact, to attend high school in Sin City. Out of high school, Bryant had aspirations of attending college. The young player wanted to be a pro baseball player, just like his dad, Mike.

At the helm of his senior year in high school, Bryant committed to the University of San Diego to play baseball with a scholarship worth nearly $50,000 per year. For the Toronto Blue Jays, it was a shot in the dark, a dart throw in making the selection knowing Bryant probably would not sign.

Offered between $1 million and $1.2 million as a signing bonus, Bryant instead forewent the tender and, without knowing it, changed the future of baseball on the North Side of Chicago.

Chicago Cubs: Trusting the process

As Bryant made his way to the University of San Diego, instead of signing with the Toronto Blue Jays, the Chicago Cubs were beginning to move their franchise in the right direction. From 2011 to 2013, when Bryant was drafted, the club was piecing together the next wave of prospects with three years’ worth of top-10 picks.

It was the beginning of the golden age for the Cubs. Theo Epstein was at the helm, leading the charge. In a piece from Chicago Cubs’ ESPN reporter Jesse Rogers, the decision for Epstein and the club to select Bryant swayed heavily in the fact that Mark Appel was heading to the Houston Astros as the top pick.

In the piece, according to Jason McLeod, the senior vice president of scouting and player development, it was between the big righty out of Oklahoma Jon Gray or Bryant.

“We felt the best player for the Cubs long-term looking at those two players was Bryant.”

Thank goodness for the logical voice stepping in to make the correct decision here.

Since joining the Cubs, Bryant has won the 2015 National League Rookie of the Year and 2016 National League Most Valuable Player, helped lead the Cubs to a long-awaited World Series title and has earned two All-Star selections.

Quite a number of accolades and accomplishments for a guy who has only been in the league four years. Bryant undoubtedly is one of the best offensive players in the game of baseball today. Cubs fans are certainly thankful for him – and that’s putting it mildly.

Chicago Cubs: What could have been?

So, what could have happened had Kris Bryant decided to sign with the Toronto Blue Jays? Well for one, he would not have been available in the 2013 MLB Draft. As the Cubs held that number two pick, and the plan to go with Jon Gray out of Oklahoma as an alternative to Bryant, the consensus “what-if” prediction is Gray.

Assuming the debut of Gray using the timeline of Bryant’s debut, Gray would have joined a rotation of Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester and Kyle Hendricks. He certainly would have slotted in immediately as a high-upside rookie.

Meanwhile, the team would have probably kept Jeimer Candelario as the third base option, as he landed as the number 11 overall prospect for the team and neared his debut at that time.

The Blue Jays, meanwhile, would have seemingly had their third base cornerstone in Kris Bryant. The decision to trade for Josh Donaldson more than likely would never have happened. Signing Vladimir Guerrero Jr., may not have happened as they would have had their guy in Bryant.

In hindsight, both clubs benefitted greatly from Bryant’s unwillingness to sign eight years ago. Toronto now has the best prospect in baseball, and the Cubs have one of the best players in baseball. Bryant is one cornerstone of the Chicago Cubs. In reality, it is difficult to imagine what a Bryant-less Cubs team would look like.

Cubs fans’ mantra since Epstein joined the organization is “In Theo We Trust.” Had the team missed the boat on Bryant, Epstein would have worked his magic in another way to find success for the franchise. That being said, Wrigleyville is thankful the opportunity to draft Bryant fell to them in 2013 and even more thankful that this time around, Bryant said yes.