Chicago Cubs: Top 3 Reasons Kris Bryant should stay in Chicago

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Many fans believe Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant will be gone next season. What are the three best reasons Bryant should stay a Cub?

Even with all the turmoil of late with Chicago Cubs Kris Bryant and his contract, Chicago loves Bryant and doesn’t want him playing in another uniform. A lot of Bryant’s fate is going to be determined by the outcome of the grievance hearings, which resumed the first week of November from its first start back on October 21st.

That’s a lot of discussions, and although the Player’s Association believes they have a good case, the Cubs have a lot of legitimate reasons for holding Bryant back, which will also make a difference.

If Major League Baseball grants Bryant his one year then he will become a free agent this off-season and quite an expensive catch for a team looking for a budding superstar and most likely too expensive for the Cubs to afford. If the Chicago Cubs win the grievance, then there will most likely be some bad blood between the club and player, and in that instance, the club, with one year left of ownership, could trade Bryant for something they desperately need.

There is also some goodness for Bryant if he can work with the Cubs management and stay in Chicago. For some reason, everyone is talking about Bryant like he’s already gone. So let’s take a look at the three biggest reasons Bryant should stay in Chicago.

Chicago Cubs: Bryant, the local folk hero

Like a great action movie or western, the Chicago Cubs have their share of heroes on the team, and Kris Bryant is undoubtedly one of them. While Javier Baez is the wild card pulling off amazing steals and sometimes clutch hitting, first baseman Anthony Rizzo is the “heavy.” Rizzo is the tough guy that you send in to get the job done, whether on offense or defense.

Willson Contreras is the young heart of the squad of heroes. If he can’t hit the ball with his bat, his sheer will can almost do it for him. Contreras’ give-it-all attitude is contagious and gets the rest of the Cubs motivated. Then who is Kris Bryant in this cast of heroic Cubs characters?

Bryant fills the role of the ‘silent professional’ on his squad and has just about attained folk hero status in Chicago because of it. Like Steve McQueen or Paul Newman of baseball, Bryant is an even-tempered cool-character on third base. And when he steps into the batter’s box there is fear by opposing teams that they are facing an MVP-caliber hitter capable of making teams pay the price if they underestimate him. Like McQueen and Newman, Bryant’s image is the good guy with all the talent.

Fans have heard these players referred to as the four horsemen of the Cubs, and it’s true, each makes a unique contribution. It is also from this group of players that most news reports are coming out discussing trades and possible moves; after all, these four players hold the top “value” for the Cubs team.

Even yours indeed has hypothetically considered that Bryant could be gone next season due to his grievance procedures. However, Bryant is like a folk-hero in Chicago. All Bryant has to do is hint to fans that he wants to stay in Chicago, and fans would go to bat for the Las Vegas native, and social media would blow up with a movement to “Keep Bryant in Chicago,” type propaganda.

While he has earned the love and trust of fans in Chicago, it would be like starting over if Bryant took his skills to another club. That’s why the third-best reason for Bryant to stay in Chicago is that he has attained folk hero status in Chicago already. There’s nothing to build, nothing to earn if Bryant stays in Chicago. He has done it all, and the fans already love him as a favorite.

Chicago Cubs: No better place to raise a kid

The biggest Chicago Cubs news this week came from the Bryant Family, who announced they were having their first child next spring. It was also revealed that the child was expected to be a boy. So with a new infant Cubs mascot on the way, can you think of a better reason to stay in Chicago? Maybe we should have called this article, “Top 3 Baby names” (James, Jim and Jimmy by the way).

More from Cubbies Crib

Staying in the Windy City will allow Jessica Bryant to continue to see the same great Chicago doctors throughout her pregnancy. Not to mention that Chicago is a beautiful place to raise a child with tons of activities, all-seasons weather, and let’s face it- Kris Bryant’s son (Jim – no pressure) will be treated like a little prince in town.

Now I don’t know how many readers out there have children, but those that do will totally understand that you want as much stability as possible for your family when having a child. The responsibilities in your life quadruple when a child comes into the picture. Bryant, of course, has the advantage of being rich enough to afford a whole household full of help for Jessica, but I don’t get that from this couple.

They are more like the “do-it-all-ourselves” type of people and being new parents; they will have their hands full. From doctor’s appointments to tests to classes, new parents are busy these days. Then they will most likely want to do some shopping for furniture, clothes, toys and set dates for baby-showers and things like that.

Can you imagine Bryant having to move to another team while all this is happening to his family? Talk about the worst timing possible; it only gets worse as Jessica is expecting right when the season begins and after a month of spring training in Mesa, Arizona. How’s that going to work during the most critical time in Jessica’s pregnancy? The second best reason for Bryant to stay in Chicago is that he is going to be a father, and there’s no better place to raise a kid than in the heartland; ask any Cubs fan.

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Time to win another Championship

The number one reason that Kris Bryant should stay in Chicago? That’s easy; the Chicago Cubs plan on winning another World Series next year, and they’ve taken significant steps to make it happen. This isn’t like the talk we hear every offseason since 2016, this time around the Chicago Cubs Manager, Joe Maddon has moved on to the Los Angeles Angels and former World Series, Game 7 hero and catcher, David Ross, has been hired as the new manager.

That means everything is getting shaken up for next season. New coaches have been named, front office personnel has taken new jobs, especially in player development and so things are not going to be the same if Kris Bryant decides to stay in Chicago. He’s going to find a manager and team that is more focused next season but still having fun if Ross has anything to do with it.

He is also going to experience the Cubs making their players be more accountable for their offensive prowess and defensive plays. The good old days of making mistakes and shrugging it off as “training” are not going to fly on this new Cubs team.

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And that’s the real reason Bryant should stick around; this season is going to be a ‘new’ team. Besides new management, coaches, front office people, and new focus, the Cubs are going to bring on some new players to help get it done. There should be new help in the bullpen and possibly even in the starting rotation. It’s a new team with a unique chance to win it all.

Things are starting to get exciting again on the North Side, let’s hope that Bryant will soon announce he’s staying a Cub and we can get the party started for 2020.

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