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Chicago Cubs: What do Kris Bryant’s comments mean for the future?
The ever-unfolding Kris Bryant saga had yet another development when the pending free agent recently spoke to reporters down in Mesa. Coming off back-to-back offseasons with swirling trade rumors and an uncharacteristaclly bad 2020 season sandwiched in between, it’s safe to say Bryant’s future with the Chicago Cubs is very much in question.
When speaking with the media, Bryant acknowledged that his future on the North Side is very much a question mark. He stated that there hadn’t been any extension talks between he and the Cubs, all in spite of Jed Hoyer saying that spring training was as good a time as any to get an extension done. There’s not many other conclusions to draw other than that Kris Bryant and the Cubs are likely heading to a break up after 2021 if things don’t change in a hurry.
But the comments to the media re-ignite so many questions Cubs fans have about the situation. Why have there been no extension talks? Why do the Cubs seem so uninterested in keeping Bryant around? Will Bryant be traded or will they ride it out? Who could replace him? Is there really no hope for an extension?
Cubs: Kris Bryant has left the door open but will that matter?
The last question may already have part of an answer, as Kris Bryant in a seperate answer certainly kept the door open on a return to Chicago. Bryant stated:
“I’m not looking at it as my last year. Who knows what year it could be? I could have 10 more years here. Who knows? I could come back as a coach. I could live in Chicago. I don’t know.”
Bryant seems to be more than happy to continue playing in Chicago, but Jed Hoyer and the Cubs have to hold up their end of the deal for that to happen.
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Hoyer did say that the Cubs would talk to all of Javier Baez, Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant about extensions this spring, but so far, Bryant seems to be the only one that has yet to have those conversations. It’s always been unlikely the team could keep all of Baez, Bryant and Rizzo, and they may want to keep Willson Contreras around as well. The apparent lack of extension talks paired with the incessant trade rumors that have plagued Bryant do not paint a pretty picture for the former MVP.
But what happens to the Chicago third baseman if they don’t keep him around? Do they trade him or do they let him ride it out for the 2021 season? Well the answer to that question likely won’t be decided until well after the season starts. Any trade discussions the Cubs were having for Bryant likely won’t be picked up until closer to the trade deadline as dealing Bryant in the middle of spring training makes zero sense.
Cubs: This will be something to keep an eye on all season long
On the surface, trading Bryant for something at the trade deadline rather than letting him walk for nothing in free agency for nothing makes sense. But digging a little deeper, there’s plenty of variables that could change that could argue against that idea, variables that have to be determined during the season.
For starters, if the Cubs wind up being competitive at the deadline, they’re keeping Bryant, and shouldn’t entertain dumping him whatsoever. Another thing that could sway the club against trading Bryant is that letting him walk in free agency for “nothing” is potentially untrue. If the Cubs give Bryant the qualifying offer, he’s almost certain to decline it and get a much larger deal in free agency, giving Chicago a potentially supplemental draft pick, which is a lot more valuable than a lot of prospects.
Another thing about Bryant is that since he’s a rental. Unless he’s tearing apart the league, there’s a good chance he doesn’t net much in the way of valuable prospects for the Chicago Cubs future at the deadline. It may make more sense for Jed Hoyer to want the comp pick in the draft instead.
There’s many more reasons to keep Bryant around for 2021 regardless of what happens than one would think but there’s still so many questions to consider about Bryant. What if Bryant is doing ok but not great at the deadline? What if the Cubs are mediocre at the deadline and Bryant is doing incredible?
Next. Hoerner is kicking down doors en route to the second base job. dark
Is there any chance the team just decides, “Forget it, let’s just extend the man?” and finally pull the trigger? We’re all gonna have to wait for answers to these burning questions about the Cubs and Bryant’s future until after the season begins. For now though, let’s all just enjoy the ride and appreciate Kris Bryant while he’s still on the North Side.