Chicago Cubs: What happens next with Kris Bryant's grievance settled?

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Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant has lost his service time grievance, which could mean we’re in for a busy few weeks of trade rumors.

On Wednesday morning, after a near half-decade wait, arbitrator Mark Irvings settled the service time grievance of Cubs star and former National League MVP Kris Bryant. Per Jeff Passan of ESPN, the ruling fell in favor of the team – which hardly comes as a surprise to the industry, as a whole.

What does this mean? Bryant will hit free agency at the conclusion of the 2021 campaign. Had he come out on top in the case, the Chicago third baseman could have tested the waters of free agency this winter.

The MLBPA encouraged Bryant to file on the grounds the Cubs manipulated his service time at the start of the 2015 season, unnecessarily keeping him in the minor leagues to accrue extra years of control.

However, executives and insiders expected Bryant to lose the grievance for a number of reasons. For starters, service time manipulation has been happening for decades. Secondly, the landscape is already changing due to lucrative multi-year contracts handed to players that have yet to even play a single MLB game, like Chicago White Sox youngsters Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert.

The Cubs had been awaiting a resolution all winter as they continue to explore Bryant’s trade value. Now that the official ruling has been made, how does this impact the team?

Chicago Cubs: Good news for Theo and the brass

This is inherently positive news for the front office.

Bryant’s trade value would have plummeted if he had won the case, because he would be in a walk year. Opposing teams are not likely to shell out premium assets for just one guaranteed year. Just ask Chaim Bloom. The same conundrum has held up a Mookie Betts trade for the Boston Red Sox.

However, adding that extra year affords the Cubs plenty of options. There are a number of teams that might still be looking for an impact player at the hot corner and could re-engage Chicago in trade talks now that the grievance ruling has been handed down.

The Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals both missed out on Josh Donaldson in free agency, but they could drive a hard bargain.

Washington have since made a number of depth moves, and they seem unwilling to part with center fielder Victor Robles. The Braves have the prospect capital to get a job done, but general manager Alex Anthopoulos has continually hinted at sticking with in-house options Austin Riley and Johan Camargo:

Anthopoulos said he's gotten promising reports on both Johan Camargo & Austin Riley this winter. Camargo is in much better shape while Riley has focused on making corrections to his swing. Both are vying for everyday 3B job, but it doesn't hurt they can move around some. #Braves
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) January 22, 2020

The Texas Rangers are another team of note, though they do not have the same prospect depth Atlanta has, particularly in terms of arm talent.

A potential sleeper to watch might be the New York Mets. Insiders have linked the Mets to a Nolan Arenado deal and it is not unreasonable to suggest they could look into Bryant, as well.

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Play the waiting game?

The Cubs could also wait to trade Bryant until the July 31 deadline. If they are out of contention, they can look to flip him for value before he enters a walk year. Of course, keeping Bryant on the roster would make for a different sort of chain reaction.

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Epstein and owner Tom Ricketts have given every indication they want to get below the luxury tax prior to the start of the season. It is a major reason Epstein did not re-sign Nicholas Castellanos while inking just two major-league deals this winter.

Roster Resource projects Chicago’s payroll to be just over $214.5 million, which is more than $6 million over the CBT threshold. Bryant is the Cubs’ best option in terms of shedding payroll while also acquiring future assets.

The Cubs could always eat the bill for 2020, but doing so would contradict the reasons for hardly spending in the first place.

All of this is to say: if the Cubs do indeed retain Bryant, the maneuvering is likely far from finished. Willson Contreras could still be on the move, and the Cubs might even pivot to trading Jason Heyward and paying down some of his salary, if necessary.

Cubs' future might depend on strong start in 2020. dark. Next

There are still questions as to how the Cubs will get below the CBT and build for the future. In many ways, the offseason has only just begun.

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