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.