There was little traction between reigning NL MVP Kris Bryant and the Cubs in their extension talks earlier this winter, so it perhaps isn’t surprising that Bryant doesn’t seem to be in any particular rush to lock up a long-term commitment.
“I guess it’s a little early,” Bryant told Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times. “I still feel super young. I’m still getting used to all of this playing at this level. I’ll listen to whatever they have to say, but I just think that it might be in my best interest to just play it out and see where things go….I’d rather just now focus on baseball and playing and not have any other distractions off the field like that, just because it’ll take away from my play on the field.”
Bryant, of course, has already pulled down a couple of notable paydays in his brief but outstanding professional career. The 25-year-old signed with the Cubs for a $6.7084 bonus after being drafted second overall in 2013, and he will be paid $1.05MM in 2017, a record sum for a pre-arbitration player. He will also be in line for a very enriching trip through the arbitration process beginning next winter, as Bryant is a virtual lock for a fourth year of arb eligibility as a Super Two player.
Given that Bryant entered tonight’s action with a .290/.396/.495 slash line over his 111 PA, he looks well on the way to matching or topping his superb numbers from his first two seasons, when he won NL Rookie of the Year honors in 2015 and followed it up with an MVP Award in 2016. Bryant may well set another arbitration-related record in the offseason by earning the highest amount ever given to a player in his first year of arb-eligibility; Ryan Howard’s $10MM salary from the 2007-08 offseason is the current benchmark. Barring injury or a significant downturn in performance, Bryant looks to be on pace to bank over $50MM through his four arbitration years before reaching free agency after the 2021 season.
Besides his comments and the lack of a driving financial incentive to sign a multi-year extension, there’s also the fact that Bryant is represented by Scott Boras, whose clients generally end up testing the open market rather than pursuing extensions with their original teams. Boras recently discussed the Bryant talks, negotiating with Theo Epstein, and his general outlook on extensions in a wide-ranging and fascinating interview with Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci.
From the Cubs’ perspective, obviously they would like to keep one of the game’s best players in the fold, though there is also a case to be made that the Cubs may have no issue with going year-to-year with Bryant. Extensions that cover arbitration years usually lock in some type of cost certainty for the team, though that is of less import with the Cubs given their payroll capacity.
The Cubs also have such a wealth of talent both on their current roster and in the minor league pipeline that, while losing Bryant would certainly be a blow, Chicago is much better-equipped than most franchises to withstand the loss of a superstar. Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer could instead focus on extensions with other young stars like Kyle Hendricks, Addison Russell, Kyle Schwarber or Javier Baez — more urgently, the team will have to address big names like Jake Arrieta, Wade Davis and John Lackey hitting free agency this winter. With Bryant still under control for four-plus seasons, inking him to an extension isn’t an especially pressing need for the Cubs, and of course quite a bit could change on either side between now and the end of the 2021 season.
Of course he will. Boras will laugh at anything less than 300 million. Spend the money on Rizzo and let this golf swing sign at a ridiculous rate elsewhere.
Dumb
Dude, go away. You’re going to talk trash about the MVP?
He didn’t deserve the MVP last year, just saying
You’re right he is garbage.. the cubs should trade him to the Cardinals..because WE KNOW he is ridiculously good!
Oh, please share who did deserve it.
I agree and have been a huge Cubs fan my entire 37 year old life. A lot of Bryant’s numbers came at meaningless points of games, I call him unclutch. When he’s hitting dingers when we are up 9-3 already congrats, way to pad those numbers. In high stress situations he does not come through. I love Bryant, he will figure it out, but he WAS NOT the MVP last year. He just happened to be on the best team and had good stats. Rizzo was more of a MVP candidate than Bryant, he did it all.
Murphy. But Bryant is awesome.
Hitting HR’s in game 5 and 6 isn’t clutch? What about AB against Miller in game 7? I guess that’s just a simple walk against the best reliever in the game.
Scoring from first on a single that didn’t get within 30 feet of the warning track? That can’t be clutch. I mean, only one other person has done it in the history of the World Series.
Also, define “clutch” and give Rizzo and Bryant’s “clutch” rate.
Bryant is one of the most talented players in baseball but I agree with the point that he shouldn’t have won MVP last year. There were 3/4 other players more deserving.
If they are going to lose him to free agency, might as well trade him now and get something back … like Ernie Broglio, III.
Completely agree. I like Bryant, but in a time of clutch, I want him nowhere near a batter’s box. The numbers are very deceiving. He’s definitely an extremely good player, but in clutch time, i’d take 7 other guys in that lineup over him.
Again, define “clutch”. You’re honestly saying his performances the final 3 games of the WS aren’t clutch?
If you have two eyes and regularly watch baseball, you won’t need someone to define “clutch.”
Clutch is hitting in high pressure situations — with runners in scoring position, when you’re down and you need a big hit, etc.
Not clutch would be when you’re already up 3 or more, or when you’re already down 4 runs…no one is on base, etc.
This isn’t rocket science, man. A few big hits in high pressure situations doesn’t mean the guy is a consistent performer when the heat is on.
More times than not, when he’s at bat and the Cubs need a big hit, he’s whiff city.
Again, was his WS games 5,6,
Rizzo? He was terrible down the stretch the last two years. Definitely wasn’t clutch in the playoffs. Bryant also plays a tougher position. Bryant was the right call.
Early-onset sour grape syndrome
I always rather the player get the ridiculous amount of money than the billionaire owner who’d rather pocket it.
The money is not ridiculous. Every human being in America is paid exactly what they are worth.
I wouldn’t say that there are plenty of terrible contracts in the majors, not saying Bryant isn’t worth crazy money just that josh Hamilton wasn’t.
Yeah, I mean, why would we want to keep a guy who’s swing is patterned after Ted Williams?
I hope he gets to enter free agency and signs with New York for 400mil. The cubs can’t keep everyone, well they could become the new Yankees and pay to keep their players.
Jake is going to want the moon, Davis will walk or get a 2year deal, they already owe Lester and hayward, rizzo will hit FA around the time Bryant does too right? So he’s another. And schwarber and Russell and baez, I think scwarber will be traded to the AL eventually and the other 2 i am not sure what they will do but they will get paid or traded. Theo is too smart to let any of them walk
Who was the last player the Yankees paid ridiculous money to? What year was that?
When did he say pay them a ridiculous amount? He said pay to keep the players instead of buying new ones? New York had a tendency before the rebuild to have a very similar roster year after year.
Chapman. This past winter. You’re welcome
Why was the money paid to Chapman ridiculous? Why are fans so obsessed with players salaries?
Well it was a record setting contract for a relief pitcher…
I wouldn’t even say it’s not worth it if it was 2 or 3 years but 5 years is very risky for a relief pitcher, especially one that relies so heavily on his 100 fastball.
He is a special talent, so I don’t begrudge him anything, but within the context of closers…it is definitely a lot considering the 5yr and AAV for a position that is traditionally not stable over a 5yr period.
Don’t understand the logic here….In a time when even average pitchers, regardless of starters or relievers are pushing for multiple year contracts why does Chapman’s get debated this much.
He’s the BEST in baseball as far as the numbers are concerned and with the emphasis that is now expressed in MLB at signing STRONG bullpen pieces, don’t understand why 5 years seems so obscene. Yes, in 5 years he may be throwing at 91-92 or Hell, a building can fall on him tomorrow but do you worry about that today and not go outside?
Ellsbury!
Russell is also a boras client I believe. So I doubt an extension gets done there either
dear addy, sign with us and we will give you all the pokemon cards.
Interesting to see ESPN’s payroll purge. Wonder if it’s a start of right fees heading downward (at least % wise). Probably not with Amazon and others entering rights negotiations but you never know. Players are hitting free agency earlier now and more players are seeking record breaking contracts. Can fans continue to pay? I stopped Netflix years ago after joining Amazon Prime. I also have the “sports package” on cable and MLB. Amy wife has Showtime and Starz. Can’t afford any others and if prices go up, I’ll be cutting something.
Amen brutha
Perhaps you have a low paying job and your wife is a bimbo?
stay classy!
Common sense says the Cubs, nor any team, will be able to keep all of these guys together for the long term. With other teams bidding against the Cubs, the will lose some of these guys, some will start with the injury bug and others will just fall off talent wise. Just will be interesting to watch it all play ou andd see what happens.
The Cubs are just gonna trade these guys out in their respective final years, refill their farm with more premium talent and keep the cycle moving. I doubt any of them get extensions.
No, actually, they aren’t.
It depends on who wants to really negotiate. Who wants to be in a bidding war, and if the Cubs think it makes sense to pay them what the have to to retain them. Not all will be resigned. It is ridiculous to think that. Some will get traded if the Cubs think they will not be able to sign them to a contract they think that they are worth to the club. As I said above, no team keeps everyone anymore.. They can’t afford to.
This is a perfect example of a situation where neither side really should want an extension. Bryant is going to be paid a fortune just by going through the process. The Cubs would be getting him below market, just by paying him that fortune. Both sides can risk the open-ended “what if” when he hits FA.
Can’t help but feel Bryant will go to the highest bidder when the time comes. He’s not going to take a discount especially after what the Cubs did to him his rookie year.
What happened in his rookie year happens everywhere on every team unless there is an injury. All that would have changed for the Cubs if they would have brought him up to start the season would be he would hit the open market and go to the highest bidder a year earlier than he will be now.
As for the Cards, Boros would have been advising him not to sign there either. It is his job. He does it well. His clients usually get significant contracts. He would be going through arbitration with the Cards as well.
I’m aware it happens, but guess who was publicly vocal about how the Cubs handled his rookie year…Boras and who do the Cubs have to negotiate a deal with…..Boras. Good luck
You really think Boros would have shown appreciation for the Cubs if they would have brought Bryant up to start that year? It would have changed nothing on how Boras and Bryant will be approaching negotiations. Everyone in Pittsburgh has said the same thing about Garrett Cole. Nothing would have changed in the way that Boras and Cole will approach FA even if they would have paid him 2 million last year. Playing nice for the ball clubs gains them nothing when it comes to signing star players. If a player really wants to stay put, they will. Look at Ivan Nova.
I get what you’re saying and I agree business is business, my point is the way the Cubs handled kris Bryant’s rookie year could potentially cause a rift between kris Bryant’s “camp” or whatever and the club. You can’t sit there and tell me if you were kris Bryant you wouldn’t be pissed off that a billionaire is delaying your big payday. Bryant fell ONE day short of reaching the first year of service mark. Could kris Bryant get paid what he deserves in Chicago and be a lifer and all is good? Absolutely, but would I be surprised if he left for another team…no. Only time will tell. Also not sure how Ivan Nova and Garrett Cole compare to a player of Bryant’s caliber
My point is, yes he might be pissed that he has to wait a year for FA but to bring him up just to make him happy would be of no extra benefit for the Cubs. They would still be the loser in the deal because they will still have to bid against the rest of the league a year sooner and nothing guaranteeing that their act of kindness will garner them any extra favor from Boras or Bryant. Bringing him up to start the season was and still is no benefit to the Cubs. They only benefit they could ever get was playing by the CBA and getting an extra year of Bryant.
Cole compares to Bryant as they have the same agent. Nova is an example of a player doing what he wants not what the agent wants. He took less money to stay in Pittsburgh because that is where he wanted to be and instructed his agent to work it out. That is the only way Bryant negotiates an extension below market rate to stay in Chicago. If he is happy playing for the team and living where he is and wants to remain, he will instruct Boras to negotiate. If he wants the highest deal, it would make no difference what the Cubs did or will do before he hits FA. That is how they compare. Not comparing talent level just negotiating strategy. Numbers are different but strategies would be similar depending on what Bryant wants to do.
Word. I agree you are correct 100%. Why not keep Bryant an extra year? And what they did was perfectly legal but my concern is that Bryant could potentially hit the market and when he does I feel it’s in the Cubs best interest that Bryant is happy how he has been treated during his time there. Then again a lot can change between now and 2021 so only time will tell.
Oh Rusty. People like you are so ignorant. Sure pal. The Cubs held him back and he will leave for that reason alone. Sure pal.
If he played for cardinals he’d already have been extended. Thru don’t do stupid things like holding a guy future franchise player back for two weeks just to delay his free agency. Cubs have built a great team, no doubt about it. Will they keep it at this level year after year after year? We’ll see.
Don’t be that guy.
Can we get some insight as to why if Bryant played for St. Louis, Boras would suddenly back away from his no extensions approach.
You are the reason people don’t like cardinal fans
Thank you for clarifying that. Because I really care who likes and dislikes Cardinals fans. My first statement on cards would resign Bryant was facetious and irrational given that who knows what would be same and different if Bryant was with cards cause that’s not reality. But the overall theme of my post was how well the cardinals have handled their stars and avoided free agency with them. Built 20 years of continued success without tanking and stockpiling draft picks. Now that the Cubs have done that and built a good team, I wonder if they can keep it with signs of arrietta, Bryant being free agents and going to highest bidder. Long term players are aging pitchers and overpaid rf, unless he improves on his hitting in which case he’ll opt out and go to free agency. I stand by that point I was trying to make. Love it how Cubs fans jdgoat, Lesterdnightfly and others get all bent out of shape by merely contrasting the cards recent history of success keeping players and wondering what the Cubs will do in future.
Actually, the Cards generally do what the Cubs did to build their team. They draft well, and make savvy trades of vets and resign those that make sense. They let guys go that make sense not to overpay on, ie in recent years Heyward and Lackey. and make a deal or two on the FA market or trade market to fill a hole when the are really ready to compete. They will not overpay for a star. They let Pujols go and in hindsight, looks like a brilliant move.
Not a Cubs fan, I just don’t like how you use this article as a way to worship your precious cardinals
“They let guys go that make sense not to overpay on, ie in recent years Heyward and Lackey.”
That’s funny. Pretty sure they offered Heyward more money than the Cubs did…
Yes, look at the savvy Mozeliak extensions of Wong (marginal one-position AAAA guy), Molina (declining, slow, no power, paying for past results and for turnstile effect), and Matheny (can’t manage a lineup card or an interview).
Yes, look at the savvy Mozeliak extensions of Wong (marginal one-position AAAA guy), Molina (declining, slow, no power, paying for past results and for turnstile effect), and Matheny (can’t manage a lineup card or crack a smile).
I’d trust the Cubs FO to make the right decisions over the Cards FO any day.
Let’s rember the Cubs had to finish last under Theo 5 years in a row and be laughing stock of baseball in order to get their one win. I’m sure that’s worth it to Cubs fans to get there. But I think it’s fair to wonder if they’ll be able to maintain their core and a continued run of success over the long run. For that id take the odds with cards front office. Time will tell on cubbies though
And how many of the “core” of the last great Cardinal teams are on the roster right now? Many are younger guys not wrapped up for the long haul. The Cards have done well to resign Martinez but not a great core right now for the team. They are in the midst of some retooling and if they do what they have done in the past, they will do well to be back in the thick next season. No way will the Cubs keep everyone nor should they nor should they want too. They will be just like the Cubs and make some savvy moves and keep the team rolling. The Pirates are just now getting to the point to where they are able to operate that way. Trouble with Pittsburgh fans is they do not understand how the Cards have done it and how the Cubs are now doing it. They still want the owners to spend wild money every year and trade everyone away from the minors for one shot at the glory.
Only waino, yadi, fowler and carpenter are above 30 of all our starters, only Lynn, waino and Diaz are out of team control before 2020. Can say what you want about cards core being good/bad but they are locked up and not aging. Lynn has already expressed interest in resigning with cards, that leaves waino and Diaz. Waino is lifetime cardinal and would not be surprised if Diaz gets big contract soon. This is stuff I’m talking about when everyone’s so pissed cause I talk about the Cardinals and retaining players. The only player in recent that was a major loss to team that we wanted to resign is heyward, part of that was his desire to go to Chicago, part was cards reluctance to give player opt outs. Piscotty recently came to cards front office and asked for an extension without cards even approaching him first. Lynn has expressed his desire to stay a cardinal. Not the best team the cards have ever had, still needs some work. But the culture of players staying and wanting to stay and being extended is real and fact based. Partly because they don’t jerk players around with arbitration and service time. Wacha is only player to go to arbitration hearing since 2000. Yes I love Cardinals, but above is all fact based
Well, for the next 4 years for sure.
I am sure the cubs are sooooo happy to have rewarded the bor-ass client with an unnecessary $1,000,000 salary this year because when arb begins, the increase is going to be insanely high.
vs what? paying him the league minimum after an mvp year and assuring he wont sign there when the time comes?
The Astros are in the same boat with players. In consecutive offseasons, they’ll Keuchel, Altuve, Springer, and Correa. I’m not worried though. Trust the system and let other teams sign stupid deals.
History has shown that paying huge money to a star does not mean it will win you anything. It does not even guarantee that the player will give you a decent return on your investment. It certainly does not guard against injury. Many teams will not get into a bidding war for their players.. Many agents will advise their clients not to sign an extension that buys out any FA years. The Cubs were built on savvy drafting, savvy trades and a few FA players that did not break the bank. It is obvious that they will not sign several of these guys who will become free agents. Some they will seek to trade to get good young talent just like what built this team to begin with. To spend well above the luxury tax line to keep many of these guys who will be long term risks at that point would be irresponsible management of the roster. Overpaying for several aging players is a mistake. To over pay to keep one or two is not.
Guessing that the Cubs will not get into a bidding war for Arrieta or Lackey if they continue on as they have been so far this season. Thinking they will let both walk if they demand a ton or if the demand long terms. Lester showing age and getting more hittable. Arrieta has been more easily hit than in the past. If neither tighten things up the Cubs will not go overboard for either. Davis will be determined with the body of work that he puts up over this season.
They are both gone after this year. If they wanted Arrietta, he would have been extended already.
Correct me if I’m wrong but I thought Lackey was going to retire after his contract with the Cubs was up?
Extensions that players sign to buy out their arbitration years outside of injuries favors the club over the player. I am not surprised that Bryant is being careful over this
By the 2021 offseason, GMs will be pushing “advanced metrics” that “prove” that HRs, RBI, and a high batting average are all meaningless (already half way there on 2 of them, or even all 3, if you ask the boppers who couldn’t find a job this winter), & that 28 is actually old. Why pay big $$ for a player whose best days are behind him & only puts up pointless old-timey stats? Don’t pay for the past! RBI are situational! I’m just wondering when “on the decline” will perfectly match up with “no longer under team control” for almost everyone, and what happens then.
No way Bryant will hit free agency. They will either reach an agreement on the extension or they will trade him, but there is no way Epstein would just lose Bryant to the free agent market. Besides, as much as I want him to do well, continued success isn’t exactly guaranteed and anything can happen between now and 2021.
Gee, and here I was thinking baseball was a team sport. I like my team to retain players who contribute to team success. Just about everyone in baseball is getting paid enough to live on very nicely for his lifetime. All the salary talk is piggish.