The Cubs have reached a record-setting deal with star third baseman Kris Bryant, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times (via Twitter). He will earn $10.85MM, setting a new high-water mark for first-time arb-eligible players.
Previously, Ryan Howard held the record for the biggest arbitration payout to a player entering the process for the first time. His $10MM mark had held sway since 2010. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz broke down Bryant’s case recently, suggesting he felt it somewhat more likely that Bryant would not quite top Howard.
Of course, there could be other factors weighing on the situation, including the controversy over Bryant’s initial promotion timeline and the fact that the Cubs would no doubt like to work out an extension if possible. Paying a bit extra and giving Bryant a record-setting deal may end up working to Chicago’s benefit. And it was no doubt preferable for the club to steer clear of a hearing.
In the spring of 2015, Chicago decided not to take Bryant north with the MLB club when it broke camp, instead waiting a few weeks to bring him up for his first big league action. That delay left the Cubs free to control him through 2021, rather than 2020, but spurred a grievance action and also left Bryant eligible to qualify for arbitration in 2018 — meaning he’ll get four bites at the apple through the arb process.
The Cubs’ approach still clearly favors the organization in the long run. But Bryant nevertheless now stands to take down some massive earnings throughout the arbitration process. He’ll have three more seasons to tack raises on top of his hefty $10.85MM starting point.
Good to see Boras and Theo playing nice. Player salaries are always going up, so KB probably deserved to set the new mark. If the next player to set the 1st time arbitration record has a ROY, MVP, and WS championship, he will be deserving as well.
I like how this article was set up. “The Cubs reach a record-setting deal with star third baseman Kris Bryant.”
Oh yeah. Addison Russell also got a contract.
So should Russell have been bigger news than Bryant or have his own article? Russell made almost 1 mil more than what was projected so he should just be happy with that. Guy hit .239 last year and missed over 50 games due to injury and/or team imposed domestic violence suspension.
I don’t recall Russell ever being suspended.
There was no team imposed or any other suspension nor any proof of domestic violence after the MLB investigated. Nothing found. Stop making up lies
Russell tanked last season. He should be happy with what he got. If he wants more he needs to prove himself consistently
He was hurt. He’ll bounce back.
I hope so for the cubs sake, they need him
Russell is a nice piece but far from a need. Baez can swap in at SS easily then you can put Zobrist or Happ at 2b. If its Zobrist nothing else changes if its Happ Almora gets the reins in CF. Not a big loss. Hence why his name pops up frequently in trade discussions.
Yes, I’d hate to lose him solid player and seems to be a solid teammate too. But the Cubs do have decisions to make in the coming years of who to keep. He may not be chosen to be kept at some point.
Zobrists days as a everyday player are done imo
This article doesn’t mention Russell.
Love to see Boras publicly appreciate cubs taking care of Bryant since he bashed them for keeping him in minors for extra days to save $
It wasn’t to save money. It was to gain an extra year of control. They’ll end up paying him more as a super two through arbitration
Well duh. Because of the 7th year of control.
It’s both… Bryant will make more in the first year of his next contract than he will in his fourth year of arbitration.
But that doesn’t save the Cubs money unless the Cubs are the ones to resign him.
Howards Arb was 2008 not 2010
And im gonna laugh when Bryant gets the Cubs to overpay or lose him in FA. He will test the market 19 out of 20 Boras clients test the market. Esp the elite players.
I’ve been smiling ever since November, 2016. I hope Kris gets everything Boras can get him. He got us one championship, and a chance for more.
Should have been more but next winter he’ll get his mega deal. Hopefully it’s at least 10/310 it will start at 8years.
Rizzo will get a raise or should get one soon too. He’s signed through 2020 with options for 2021 and 2022. But they should extend him 6 more years which would automatically kick in the option years and extend to 2028
You forget to turn off the “force extension” setting on MLB The Show again?
Now give him 5 years and $96 million on top of this.
Only 96mil for 5 years. That’s an insult. He’ll get at least 3 times the money and hopefully twice the years.
My thought was three more years of arb at average of $14 million/year, then two years of FA at $27 million/year. Then I just saw Donaldson’s last year of arb and realized my numbers are off. With three more years of arb maybe average $19 mil/year for three, then $30 mil/year for two FA years. So, five year, $117 million for three more arb plus buying out two FA year.
The problem with giving Bryant a contract that runs through his first year or two of free agency is that he isn’t all that young… Unlike Trout, who was 23 when his first “mega deal” kicked in, Bryant is already 26. He’s not set to enter FA until his age 30 season, which puts him at a major disadvantage when comparing him to the eventual contracts of similarly valued guys like Harper/Machado. I don’t think he wants to push that back to age 31 or 32, especially for the 5yr/$117m you’re proposing. I think it’ll take a much more significant offer to get him to forgo any of his FA years, which is why I think they’ll be offering him one of these mega contracts in the next 2 or so years to attempt to make him a Cub for life.
I think Russell is set to break out. He is still very young.
With contracts for older (31+) players tanking, the union needs to fix the current screwjob players get by being held back a couple of weeks. For the first time in a long time, I see storm clouds brewing on the labor front. The clubs hold all the leverage and the players getting frustrated. The way the Cubs held Bryant down when he was clearly roster worthy breaking spring training is the prime example.
Lots of kids look roster worthy in Spring Training but he wasn’t gonna start. Cubs wanted him to get more at bats so kept him off the roster. He was only called up after injuries. Not much to see here, if Bryant had a case we would have heard about it by now.
Lol, everyone knows they kept him down because they wanted to delay his free agency. He doesn’t have a case per se because what the Cubs did was perfectly legal and something every team does.