Kris Bryant’s status with the Rockies remains up in the air, at best. The former NL Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player signed a seven-year free agent contract four offseasons ago but has thus far managed to play in only 170 games due to a cascade of injuries — the most notable among them being a degenerative lumbar condition in his lower back that continues to cause him pain. The Rox already placed Bryant on the 60-day injured list (upon signing right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano shortly after camp opened), and Bryant told the team’s beat he’s unsure as to when or whether he’ll be able to resume playing (video links via Kevin Henry of the Denver Gazette).
Bryant noted that he’s been “waking up in pain every day” and been unable to progress beyond relatively minor physical activity, let alone baseball activities. The 34-year-old acknowledged that even jogging “is giving me a big problem right now.”
There’s no timetable for Bryant’s return at present. He played in only 11 games last season and 37 the year prior. He’s reached 200 plate appearances only once in his four seasons with Colorado. Asked whether it was worth it for him to continue trying to put his body through the rigors of rehabbing, Bryant replied (via Thomas Harding of MLB.com):
“I honestly try not to let myself get there, just because, when you’re going through it every single day, you just try to make it day to day. I think people out there with chronic pain, you don’t want to think about so far in the future, because you’re trying to get through the day. So I haven’t let myself get there.”
Bryant’s physical decline has been ongoing for some time, but it came about in abrupt fashion. In 2021, he played 144 games between the Cubs and Giants, turning in a combined .265/.353/.481 slash (24% better than league average) with 25 home runs in 586 plate appearances. His debut season with the Rockies was shortened by a monthlong absence due to a lower back strain, but it was a bout of plantar fasciitis that really limited his time on the field. He appeared in only 42 games but was at least excellent when healthy, hitting .306/.376/.475 in 181 plate appearances.
Since that time, Bryant has been placed on the IL due to a heel injury, a broken finger and a ribcage injury. He’s now had four IL stints (including the current one) due to lower back troubles dating back to Opening Day 2024. Last year’s IL placement on April 14 proved to be season-ending in nature.
On a purely baseball level, Bryant’s repeated injury struggles are understandably maddening for Rockies fans, who see the albatross contract as emblematic of a former leadership regime that far too often put the Rockies on a negative trajectory.
From a purely human level, it’s unfortunate to see anyone’s career so aggressively derailed by a chronic, degenerative condition that could have lasting implications for Bryant well beyond his playing days. To already be facing such a debilitating physical condition at a young age — Bryant turned 34 on Jan. 7 — must be grueling from a mental and emotional standpoint, particularly for someone whose career began with such promise. Regardless of what happens with Bryant’s baseball career, one would hope that doctors are able to find a means to simply allow him to live his life in a a state of relative comfort — which does not sound to have been the case for quite some time now.
I’m starting to think this guy hates baseball as much as Rendon does…
I’m starting to think that you’ve never heard Kris Bryant talk
He didn’t even read this article where Kris talks about the pain and physical state he’s in being so bad he doesn’t even want to think about how close he is to playing because he’s so far off. Back issues are no joke and rarely get much better. I just hope he gets healthy enjoy to be able to enjoy post baseball life with his family.
What an absolutely ignorant comment. Bryant was an absolute joy to watch play. If you’ve watched or listened to any interview he’s given, you can tell how much pain he is in and how much he wants to play.
As a Cubs fan I feel so bad for Kris Bryant. I can tell you unequivocally that he is nothing like Rendon. Their careers have taken a similar trajectory but Bryant is dealing w a degenerative condition and it pains him to not be playing. He passed on attending the Cubs convention this year cause of the optics w his current team. The guy is a class act.
Do you not feel how sad he sounds? He just wants to play ball again
You clearly didn’t read the article. That’s such a disgusting and rude way to look at this. If you had a degenerative condition I’m sure you’d be pissed if people called you lazy and a slacker. You know you can actually think critically right?
Nah he’s different than Rendon
Having degenerative disc disease myself in the lower spine with encroachments on the sciatic nerves, the pain he’s talking about is real. Somedays you can’t even tie your shoes!
Balk I hear you. Have been disabled for about 15 years. Just had operation #5. 2 in the neck and 3 mid back. I am lucky I got past the asking for help to tie my shoes. Bryant needs to come to terms with it and do an injury settlement. I would be sure he gets to use the team facility for rehab or to just work out. If he finds he can get back to playing have some kind of deal ready. It is not fair the team pays him millions for 4 more years just for him to hope he can get back on the field. I know they signed the contract but nobody could gave for seen this.
The Rox might have insurance to cover the contract.
Right now Morgs is like Regan gleefully watching Father Karras trying to revive Father Merrin.
I see four separate references in your post here and I don’t have any idea about any of them. Like not a clue what these names are referring to…but my wild guess is Game of Thrones???
No, but why spoil it for you when you actually get a chance to watch it?
If I get to watch what? If it’s not Game of Thrones, what am I watching?
tenor.com/view/exorcist-possessed-creepy-laughing-…
I have no of what he’s talking about. I’m ignorant too. Can’t anybody make an obscure reference to make people believe you are smarter than you? BTW, I found Game of Thrones very boring and borderline ridiculous. It’s just a modern day Clash of The Titans or 1980s Desert wasteland/Wizard/evil Princess skin flick without nudity, skimpy outfits and jiggly Women, which is the only reason I watched them.
You obviously didn’t watch Game of Thrones if you didn’t see nudity, skimpy outfits and jiggly women.
@13Morgs13: You lost me at “I’m starting to think”.
Reading must be tough for him.
I’m starting to think you lack reading comprehension.
Yikes brah, were is your compassion?
Guy isn’t trying to get hurt, sit down dude
The bat was elite at one point. If he put the glove down and focused on just being a full time DH I could see him being worth a roster spot. Pretty clear that he cannot handle a starting role anymore.
That could be a possibility if he was able to even get up and do anything without excruciating pain.
I doubt he can swing a bat with his condition. Imagine the torque on his back.
@sean p
At this point Kris might just be lucky to get back doing everyday things without pain much less swing a bat at a professional level. Also let’s say he can go back to swinging a bat is it still going to be elite, or is it gonna be he is one wrong swing away back to where he is at now? Wish the man the best, from what I’ve gathered seem to be a good dude that lives the game and I hate seeing stand up guys go out like this.
They could be the 3rd and 1st basemen on the all injured, overpaid, all time team.
@13Morg Im really starting to think some people hate intelligence. We love in an information age with the power of all the world’s libraries in our pockets, yet people comment on articles without reading said articles. That to me is utterly mind boggling…
I’d hate to have that bad of a back at 34 years old. I hope he can just get back to living a normal life. Heal up, Sir.
Why has he not retired yet?
Because if he voluntarily retires purely due to discomfort and not because he was medically required to by team/league approved doctors, he’d forfeit whatever was left on his contract.
He still wants his money. Understandably so.
I’m sure he’d be broke w/out it
99.9999999% of people in his shoes would do the exact same thing
Exactly. Don’t forfeit the money, play the process out. It’s not his fault he’s injured, it happened and the back is a lingering thing that even with surgery is never 100%. Sometimes the surgery only takes the pain from a 10 to a 7. I saw that for a couple family members who were young too. And in good shape.
Certain injuries, for athletes are career killers bc of the daily toll it takes on their bodies.
If u had the choice between, rehabbing for the next four years to get paid millions in the hopes that there is a 1% chance you might get healthy and play baseball again or give up the millions and retire to spend the rest of ur life dealing with a degenerative back condition anyway, are you really gonna claim ur taking the latter option because that’s a lie.
I would, hell in construction we have a saying (it’s written in every porta John) boss makes a dollar I make a dime that’s why I poop on company time. With how owners try and not pay you what your worth for years 1~6 when players hold out for the money because there hurt doesn’t bother me one bit.
Money. Gil Meche retired when he knew he couldn’t compete anymore and saved the Royals $11 million. Nothing but respect for him as a professional and person.
Least Meche was a stand-up guy & not a thief
Oh please spare me your nobility.
At least Bryant seems like a nice guy, unlike some other people.
D Rock tell us more about your lack of knowledge all things baseball.
You first Zac you nobody you
won’t somebody think of the poor tragic monforts who are being taken to the cleaners by a guy whose body gave up on him
a bloo bloo bloo
go lick some more boots
You mad bro?
He just loves the game
He’s trying to have hope to play. He LOVES baseball.
I watched him play in high school, this is the kid that was always first one there and last one to go home.
This is killing him, he wants to be able to play
Rea$on$.
MLB rules screwed him over at the start of his career. I have no issue with him continuing to collect a paycheck and hope to play.
$$$$ I don’t blame him, we all would hang on
He isn’t gonna retire unless it’s a medically required retirement that the team and insurance can’t get out of, so that he gets every last dollar of that contract- which he absolutely should try for. But clearly he cannot play anymore.
But he ain’t gonna voluntarily retire with $80M left on his deal.
Nice of him to keep taking the Rockies $ in the meantime
They didn’t have to sign him to that ridiculous contract. It’s totally on them.
It was nice of him to accept it though
I agree.
Was he supposed to NOT accept it?
Of course you’re such a standup guy you would voluntarily give up the rest of what you’re owed, wouldn’t you?
It’s not like the Rockies would’ve spent it wisely if they hadn’t given it to Bryant.
He’s averaging over 40 games a year, how much you think $26M annually buys you these days? Geeeez! 🤣
You see it’s called a Contract
A Contract is when 2 parties agree to something, come hell or high water. Stipulations are in the contract.
The Rockies are A. insured and B. not complaining about Bryant
so go take your terrible takes back to the dog food factory
Unless they agree on a buyout and if I’m KB I ain’t doing.
depends – if he works that out well with his agent/accountant, he could end up not missing a penny despite long-term annuities and all that. It’s a broken record, but Bobby Bonilla
Don’t feel bad for Bryant. He took that money from Colorado afterall.
100
I feel bad for Bryant, the same as I would for anyone with chronic back pain. That really sucks.
Do you not hear how much he wants to play again? He is disappointed that he can’t play, and at the end of the day, millionaires have feelings, too
Its colorados fault for overpaying him when he had red flags at the time, it’s not like he was holding their front office at gunpoint to force them
Don’t feel bad for Bryant the Professional Baseball Player and Rich Guy
But there’s plenty of room to feel bad for the human trying to do the thing he loves – I’m not getting sandbagging vibes, maybe I’m a sucker, but I think everybody is proceeding in good faith.
He can take over for Tony Clark and really teach the PA to screw with the owners.
given that nobody signed him except for Colorado, I don’t think he’s screwing with many owners beyond the one who wishes Bryant was his son instead of his actualy sons.
World Series W and MVP by his second season age 24. Sad situation but many players would give up the second half of their career for such heights.
One of the best humans to play the game. It has to be agonizing to not be able to play the game tha you love, especially when you know that when healthy, you could be one of the best in the game.
Grateful for every moment he provided Cubs fans. And while I can absolutely sympathize with the frustrations of Rockies fans, I think the human side of what KB is going through is where many a fan’s hearts are…
Best humans to play the game????
Really?????
Thats what you say about Roberto Clemente. Not this guy. Calm down.
He is one of the best humans….he is the one that confirmed for us that “St. Louis is boring.”
He’s the greatest human of all-time
do you have reason why Bryant shouldn’t deserve such adulation? 2 things can be true, it’s not a zero-sum game between Bryant and Clemente
At 34 if he has pain getting out of bed in the morning, that’s bad. That does not look good for him returning much less contributing. Hopefully they can figure out what’s going on for him long term,
This sucks to hear. He is a class act.
Did he ever have spinal surgery on it?
Back surgery is at best a hopeful thing. It is a 100% cure unless you get really lucky. Right now, the best hope is that it will alleviate his pain and allow him a relatively normal life after baseball. But competing at the highest level is likely not ever going to happen again. I hope he gets well, but I also hope to never see him on the field in a Rockies uniform again.
@hiflew
Depending on how bad the disc have gotten surgery might not even do anything for him. I watched with my mom and insurance companies argue over who was going to pay for her neck surgery and by the time one of them approved it the damage gotten so bad that surgery wouldn’t of helped and the solution then was more prescribed narcotics. Hopefully kris doesn’t have to go down the road of needing pills the rest of his life it’s a miserable way to live.
He had one relatively small procedure on his back, I think last season. Clearly it didn’t help as much as hoped.
IIRC he got some cortisone shots and an ablation, but hasn’t gone so far as fusing vertebrae – that’ll basically call it done
Yes, the ablation was the smaller surgery I was trying to think of.
I think baseball needs a 180-day IL for people who get injured before the season starts or in the first month, and miss the rest of the season. Maybe just one slot per team. Their paycheck wouldn’t count against the CBT.
Sadly, he’s probably done.
The Rockies should work out some type of retirement agreement with Bryant. Clearly his playing career is over, and has been for a while. Reaching some kind of agreement deferring his remaining salary over an extended period would benefit both sides. Bryant would still receive all of his money, but spread over several years. That would ensure he has income over those years. The team would be able to save some money over the next few years and clear a roster spot. Of course, they could also offer Bryant some other position with the team, allowing him to stay connected to the team and earn his guaranteed salary.
this is the most likely scenario, although it’s “only” 3 more years, so they might be inclined to just bite the bullet and eat the money across that span instead of spreading it out. don’t see the Rox being realistic playoff contenders for a few years at (very) best
this right here
our payroll obligations will be like Arb 1 at worst minus money already on the books
it’s insured, just do it
Worse contract, kris bryant or anthony rendon?
Rendon.
Rendon easy – 1.5-2x what Bryant got, and Rendon fought the fans. Granted that fan … well I don’t really wish violence on people but it would be nice for that fan to experience a minor consequence if they didn’t already
but yeah Rendon’s like “this game sucks” for ~$30M+ and Bryant’s like “I can’t wake up not in pain but I’m trying guys” for …24? can’t scroll up
Rendon’s without a doubt, I feel rendon just “gave up” and used his injury as an excuse, where with kris he’s actually trying to get back into the game.
Just a shame for both parties obviously the Rockies aren’t getting what they wanted but Kris Bryant obviously doesn’t want this either so I hope fans are understanding to him and don’t make him feel bad for something he can’t really control.
How long would it even take to get back to baseball activities if hes hurting so much still. Sadly his baseball days are gone. Was good watching him at his best
I haven’t seen much shade going his way, beyond fair-call “it’s disappointing”, but the sheer number of failed comeback articles is evidence in his favor
Kris Bryand should retire.
He should have his Rep negotiate a settlement and move on.
As Bryant ages it will only get worse, not better.
If he keeps trying to do what his body is telling him not to do
then he could end up in a wheel chair.
He has made generational money in his career.
Obviously, he cannot do it anymore.
Hang up those cleats !
I think the better comparison to Bryant is David Wright, a beloved all time Met, who suffered thru his last few yrs with lower back issues before hanging up his cleats.
Wright had the better overall career, but that’s a great comp
Totally agree. Wright was a stud for a good 10 yrs until his back issue crippled him.
Trade him to the Cubs in a buyout and let him retire
The problem has nothing to do with nobility but rather it is hard to be empathetic to an individual making more money than my whole town combined. Baseball is grueling but it has become an elite sport where cost for tickets, jerseys, merchandise even ball cards are too expensive for the common person and for those who are poor.
CUP,
Tickets and merchandise cost What they do because owners have set those prices, not because of player salaries. If Bryant makes more money than your whole town, owners make more money than 50 towns.
He’s a worker
If you had the skills and leverage, you would make that money as well
Either he gets it, or the owner gets it. I pick the worker.
Rockies need to come to terms on a release for this guy. Way past time to turn the page on this nightmare.
I”m a Rockies fan. Although it bums me out that Bryant isn’t playing, the facts are that he has a degenerative back condition, is in pain, and nothing he’s tried to do to remedy it has worked. A deal is a deal. He should be paid what he is contractually owed. If he can’t play again, I hope that he and the Rockies can agree to stretch what he’s owed over more than 3 years. Pay him a market rate of interest that compensates him for the delayed payments.
his contract is insured and he’s on the 60-day. They aren’t building around him and they aren’t missing him – MVP Kris Bryant doesn’t turn this team into a competitor
Kris Bryant is far from our most pressing nightmare.
Hope he gets better that being said the Cubs were smart letting Bryant Rizzo and Baez walk
They were all traded in 2021 so none of them were “let to walk”. Trading all three have had varying degrees of what you’d call a successful trade but because of their performance post trade rather than the players received via trade.
Gambler means “Not Extending Them” regardless of the return. Dead return? Oh well, that does stink, but they aren’t paying those guys anymore.
You gotta feel for the guy. After his 1st two seasons, we thought we were watching a future HOF’er.
Was there a certain baseball injury that triggered this degenerative condition, or would this likely have happened whether he played baseball or not ???
I don’t think so, I think it has more to do with repetitive motion. These kinds of spine injuries affect – well they obviously make Bryant wake up in pain, so there’s that – but they affect your ability to twist your torso effectively. Means he’s never gonna be an elite batter again, his body won’t allow him to quick-twist enough to really pull a baseball.
Such a bummer. He has more talent than the majority of guys in MLB. His body just failed him.
All you people complaining about him taking the money while not being able to play are probably the exact same people that complained when Bryant didnt get enough service team and his free agency ability was extended a season.
Exact same guy….
Kris, you deserve every single penny you signed for…
This coming from a fellow millionaire?
Either he gets it or the owners get it. I pick the worker.
Rockies weee bidding against themselves when they signed him. He must feel he has given his life so far to baseball and the Rockies ended up paying
oh yeah we’re idiots. Nobody was signing Bryant to that deal. Dick Monfort just really wished Kris Bryant was his son.
I would suspect that once the insurability of his contract runs out you’ll see a Rendon type buyout for retirement.
do you know if they’re insured for the entire body of the contract or if it has to be re-upped every season? I’d expect the former, so “insurability” is a 2022 question
From a little research I did a few years ago the only consistent terms where 75% of the contract is insured and it’s usually based on 3 year intervals. So whatever terms teams initially had on contracts like Bryant or Rendon it’s likely they settled for higher premiums or decreased recovery %’s (or a combination of both) on the second 3 years. Worst case is the premiums are so unfavorable the remaining contract is essentially uninsurable.
I legit did not know they re-evaluated post-execution of the contract, thanks for the intel!
If back is stilling hurting him, then its time to go home,
As a Giants fan, I was absolutely thrilled when we got him 2021. Was hoping we kept him, but he got his payday. Can’t be mad at that. So unfortunate for him, I also deal with chronic pain due from my time in the service. It sucks, everyday. I hope he can get some of that pain alleviated in some way. No matter what, he was an outstanding player.
Rockies fans generally feel bad for KB, that he is suffering from a condition that will only get worse and it is degenerative.
The hit to the payroll isn’t insignificant, as is the requirement to put him on the 40-man roster in the off-season.
This is the probable way forward required to honor the existing contract that both sides know will happen:
2026 – $27M payroll, 60-day IL whole season
2027 – $27M payroll minus any lost games pay if a lock-out/strike, 60-day IL all-season.
2028 – $27M payroll due, allow KB to retire after a Rendon-like extended payout that takes into account the time-value of 2028 $27M money.
Also for consideration are any insurance payments, if any, available to offset the $81M remaining due to KB by the Rockies if deemed medically unable to complete the terms of the existing contract.
***
Rockies could use the eventual salary relief –when the KB contract terms are fulfilled — to return to their usual mid-$100M’s+ players’ salary that places them in the middle of the pack for teams salaries.
By time we have the crew worth paying 6+y of service time, he’ll be off the books.
I know these cases are so rare, but if a player like Bryant who physically can’t play the game of baseball due to a gruesome injury/condition, but still wants to contribute in some way, I don’t see why the Rockies can’t put him in an assistant/advisor type roll for the front office. The team gets some kind of value for the contract that was signed (even if it’s behind the scenes stuff), player still gets to work in the game in some capacity even if he isn’t playing, and moronic/annoying “fans” online will shut up about calling players thieves for still collecting a paycheck as they recover from injuries.
Overpay
Do You think living and playing in High Altitude can cause this? Its weird because you dont see other former/current Rockies have the same issue. But, Science backs this up
google.com/search?q=can+living+in+high+altitude+ca…
basically states that being in high altitudes speeds up the proccess of degenerative lumbar condition also causes tissues age faster. But yet whyy havnt we seen this in Arenado etc..
Arenado’s back injury in 2023 isn’t anywhere close to what Bryant is suffering.
Todd Helton had back trouble that caused him to be greatly diminished the last few years of his career, but I don’t know if it was the same sort of condition Bryant has.
Helton’s condition wasn’t as severe as Bryant’s is.
Marco Scuturo had some of the same issues too. Believe it played a part in his early exit.
yeah he had that and Chron’s as well. The back issues would take him out, but those were more like sciatica or pinched nerves type issues if I’m recalling correctly – discussions about a leg feeling numb and stuff like that.
There’s been smoke for 20yr about altitude having a negative effect on athlete longevity. I don’t think there’s much to it, esp given the US Winter Olympic Teams train here in Colorado for the altitude
Good guy great player but He should retire.
He has wanted to play for the last 4 years but has been unable to. Do the right thing and help the club and restructure your contract to be paid over a longer period and retire. What’s he going to do when he’s off the 60 day IL – want to try again. Just a bust of a contract, it’s time to cut bait.
Feel bad for the cat. At this point, maybe he needs to focus on life after baseball.
Sad for him. He was a good player for the Cubs in his prime, but beyond that, it’s tough to live with a chronic bad back, and it sounds like his is worse than most.
In the conversation for top 10 worst contracts of all time. Take a flyer from the Angel’s and negotiate some kind of buy out. What a waste. This kind of thing handcuffs organizations like the Rockies forever it seems.
I disagree – but real question:
To you, this is your opinion, what qualifies “the worst contract”?
I don’t disagree this is a bad one or a second, we’ve gotten 0 out of him for all this money. I don’t think his contract and lack of production have been the difference between COL being 5th place in the NL West and being 5th place in the NL West with a historically catastrophic season
Do you factor in toxicity of the player/club relationship? Like, if a guy shows up, sorta performs, makes way too much, and tears up the clubhouse, do those 5WAR over several years or whatever make it worse than Bryant who is at 0WAR or worse (without looking) but has been a consummate professional (as far as we can tell) about the whole situation?
(I mean, skipping the part where he didn’t even research where he was going before he signed and all that, that was just kind of LOL)
I guess I’d rather have Bryant while the team is steeped in garbage water rather than, say, Castellanos being a dick to all the young players, or Rendon getting them all salty, or Carl Pavano because that contract with NYY needs to remain the eternal punchline
Hes cooked. Negotiate a settlement and retire.
It would be nice to see him get out of pain and live a normal life doing something different.Life is too short to worry about playing baseball again.Bryant has empathy for people who are in pain like himself.
All kinds of remedies for a bad back ranging from surgery on down to snake oil remedies. I’m sure people who suffer from a bad back, especially one so severe that it seriously compromises everyday activities, would be willing to try almost anything to get relief. But I’ve yet to hear anyone say to me, “I used to have a bad back.”. I think the best 90% of the people can hope for is some modest improvement while knowing that there back is never gonna be good as new. As for Bryant, I believe we’ve seen the last of him on an MLB field. Sad ending for a guy who, in his prime, was once one of the ten best players in the game.
There needs to be some protection established for both the player and the team. A long term disability type listing that voids the contract and defaults to a lower amount. I’m sick of seeing teams getting screwed by the likes of Kris Bryant, Anthony Rendon, Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Jacoby Ellsbury, and even Mike Trout. It’s becoming more evident players a picture of health before the big payday not playing after signing guaranteed contracts.