Cubs Rumors: Bryce Harper’s take on the Phillies potientally trading for Kris Bryant

Cubs Rumors: Bryce Harper discussed why he isn’t in favor of the Philadelphia Phillies potentially trading for Chicago Cubs star Kris Bryant.

It is no secret that trade talks surrounding Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant had run rampant over the past few months, especially since late January when Bryant’s service time grievances were finally resolved. Bryant lost the case, meaning he will become a free agent in 2021, and as a result, his current trade value has skyrocketed.

The fact that Spring Training games will be underway within the blink of an eye, and the regular season is just a little over a month away, is almost unfathomable. While it’s been quite a while since play and it’s about time that baseball is back, this also means that there is little time left for the Chicago Cubs to make some noise during this quiet off-season. Yet, one of the most significant ways the Cubs could still leave their mark on the 2019-2020 off-season would be by trading Kris Bryant.

There have been a few teams at the forefront of the infamous Kris Bryant trade rumors, and one of the most notable is the Philadelphia Phillies. Bryant landing in the City of Brotherly Love would unite him and fellow Las Vegas native and longtime friend Bryce Harper, but this would not be the first time this idea was mentioned.

Back in the 2018 season, rumors were flooding the idea that Bryce Harper would join Bryant on the Chicago Cubs. Here in 2020, with Bryant on the table as a trade piece, and entering free agency in 2021, this idea isn’t super far fetched. However, during their respective press conferences after arriving at their spring training sites, in Mesa, Arizona, and Clearwater, Florida, both Harper and Bryant addressed many different things. Most notably, they discussed trade rumors.

Chicago Cubs: Kris Bryant made it clear he wants to stay in Chicago

Bryant, 28 addressed many issues in the thirty-plus minutes he spent talking to the media on Saturday. Everything from the Astros’ cheating scandal to his service time grievance case was covered. The biggest takeaway from all of what Bryant said is that he still wants to stay with the Cubs organization despite all he has been through with them. 

The third baseman made sure to note that he isn’t holding anything against the organization as a whole, and he is thankful for all that the Chicago Cubs have done for him and his family. Here’s what Bryant told the collective media, including Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic (subscription required): 

“The only person whose opinion matters here is mine,” Bryant said. “Right here in front of the microphone, I’m telling you guys there’s no hard feelings whatsoever. I completely respect this organization and everything they’ve done for me and my family. They’ve given me an opportunity to play the game that I love every single day.”

By saying this, Bryant proved himself to be composed and professional. With this, the ongoing conversation segwayed into discussing the abundant trade rumors surrounding Bryant and the different teams he could end up with. However, Bryant is going into the 2020 season preparing for the regular season as if he’ll be a member of the Cubs. Sharma also noted:

I’ve always had the stance that, yes, I want to play here. I love the city,” Bryant said. “The biggest thing with the trade rumors that have disappointed me is I feel like people, not everybody, but the main reasoning behind it is: Let’s get rid of him now because he doesn’t want to be here in two years. He turned down this monster extension ‘well north of $200 million.’ And I’m like, ‘Where was that? I never saw that.’”

After hearing this, it seems clear that Bryant wants to play baseball on the north side of Chicago. Going back to the idea of the Philadelphia Phillies exploring a trade to reunite Kris Bryant with his buddy Bryce Harper, it seems as if Bryant isn’t on board, and neither is Harper.