5 free agents who absolutely will not sign with the Chicago Cubs

Kris Bryant’s time with the Chicago Cubs is over – whether you like it or not

” I was there Gandalf. I was there three thousand years ago…”

Oh, sorry. Anywho. I was in the seats late this summer when Kris Bryant returned to Wrigley Field as a member of the San Francisco Giants. I saw the tears, felt the emotions that crashed over the ballpark like waves. And I’m here to tell you it was that powerful because Bryant – and those involved – knew it was the closing of a chapter.

The former NL Rookie of the Year and MVP never lived up to the standards he set with his otherworldly play back in 2015 and 2016, when he helped lead the Cubs to that long-awaited World Series championship. He was the constant target of criticism, trade rumors and speculation and, at the end of the day, he’s a human being and all that stuff wore on him and his family.

For the first time in his career, this summer, he got to see what life can be like outside of the Cubs organization and, from all accounts, he and his wife both really enjoyed their time by the Bay. Although it doesn’t sound like the Giants are interested in bringing him back on a massive free agent deal, that glimpse let Bryant see what things could be like.

If you put this guy somewhere like Seattle, he’s going to thrive. He’s one of the most versatile players in the game and, when healthy, can still be an offensive force. But he’s never going to be a member of the Chicago Cubs ever again.