Cubs News: Are players upset with the front office and ownership?

Chicago Cubs: The Bryant debacle got things off on the wrong foot

Fans should look no further than the beginning of the 2015 season, when Epstein and the front office delayed Bryant’s MLB debut by a few weeks even though he appeared more than ready.

“More than anything, we want him to get in a good rhythm defensively before he makes his major league debut,” president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said at the time.

That is the biggest load of bull-crap I have ever heard. The reality is Bryant slashed .425/.477/1.175 with nine home runs in 14 games that spring. There isn’t a single team in the league who would turn down that offensive potential because of the defensive concerns Epstein spoke of.

The real reason they did this was to save a few days of MLB service time so Bryant can become a free agent next year as opposed to this upcoming offseason. That’s the first red flag for Bryant and super-agent Scott Boras against the Cubs’ front office.

Fast-forward the next two seasons, Bryant wins Rookie of the Year, NL MVP and is one of the main reasons the Cubs win the World Series in 2016. Rather than work out a deal in the past few years, Epstein and his crew appear to be procrastinating until the last possible moment to make their move.

Chicago Cubs need to act like a big-market organization

The only problem is Bryant’s value and production have taken a huge dip, and the same can be said about the other players on the team who will soon be hitting the free agent market.

As a club that plays in one of the largest financial market’s in the league, you would think spending money to help increase the chances of winning the World Series would be an afterthought.

Sure the Cubs can choose to play moneyball like the A’s or Rays and hope it gets them another title. However, the difference is those teams have no choice other than to piece together a roster with whatever nickels and dimes they have laying around.

After all, the owners of the Yankees, Dodgers and Red Sox don’t seem to be looking in their couch cushions for spare change these days. You’re telling me the Cubs – mind you with a brand-new TV network (Marquee Sports), new hotels, parking lots, restaurants, etc, all of a sudden have no money to spend? I’m not a numbers guy by any means, but I just don’t see how that adds up.

Chicago Cubs: Rizzo makes a ton of sense as extension candidate

If I’m sitting here writing this, and fans are talking about it, you know for a fact the players have had the same thoughts cross their minds, especially someone like Bryant.

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The same goes for players like Baez and Rizzo who rarely take a day off (unless they get injured) and risk it all to help their team win. I would imagine how frustrating it would be for these players who dedicate everything they have to this organization and still not getting a long-term commitment in return.

Not to mention, playing during the pandemic of the 2020 season where they struggled mightily. Now they most likely won’t get paid as much as they would have a few seasons ago, while literally risking their own health to play.

I understand why the team would be a little hesitant to extend certain players, but to not even secure Rizzo for the long haul is mind boggling.

Aside from his leadership, he’s statistically been the most consistent Cub to-date.

Of course, it is unlikely you will ever publicly hear a complaint out of this group. They are the type of players who keep their heads down and will continue going to work because if it’s not the Cubs, some other team is going to take care of them financially.