A service-time grievance and trade rumors have been dominant topics this offseason centering on Cubs superstar Kris Bryant. But Bryant, who will turn 28 on Saturday, would still prefer to spend his entire career with the Cubs, Bruce Levine of 670 The Score hears. That depends in part on whether the club would be willing to give the third baseman “fair value” in an extension, though. To this point, there hasn’t been any word about serious extension talks between the two sides. As of now, after his grievance hearing in October, the main question is whether Bryant has one or two years of team control left. The decision figures to have a significant impact on his future.
More from around the game…
- If free-agent outfielder Yasiel Puig ends up scoring a multiyear contract, which is far from a sure thing, it’s “unlikely” the Tigers will be the team that gives it to him, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com writes. That said, credible outfield possibilities in free agency are decreasing, and the Tigers look to be in desperate need of help there. Their projected 2020 trio of JaCoby Jones, Christin Stewart and Harold Castro combined for minus-1.7 fWAR in 2019.
- The Mets opened up a windfall of cash when they agreed to an amended contract with injury-laden outfielder Yoenis Cespedes two weeks ago. A few days later, the team reached a guaranteed $10.5MM deal with reliever Dellin Betances. However, according to general manager Brodie Van Wagenen, there’s no connection between the two transactions. “The specifics of Cespedes’ resolution didn’t necessarily drive this decision. It was more the desire to get this player,” said Van Wagenen, per Ken Davidoff of the New York Post. Van Wagenen added that the Mets’ pursuit of Betances began at the general managers’ meetings in November, long before they changed Cespedes’ contract.
- It seems interest in outfielder Kim Jae-Hwan has been hard to come by since he was posted Dec. 5, but the free agent has every intention of riding out the process, his agent, Kim Pyung-ki, told Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News. Kim only has until Sunday to find a contract; otherwise, he’ll return to his Korea Baseball Organization club, the Doosan Bears, and won’t be eligible for another posting until November. So far this offseason, only the Marlins have been connected to Kim, but “they seemed lukewarm in their response after watching footage of Kim in action,” Yoo writes. And Miami has signed fellow outfielder Corey Dickerson, perhaps taking it out of the Kim sweepstakes entirely.
It should not have taken more than 2 weeks, tops, to make a decision on Bryant’s grievance claim.
This hearing has deeper ramifications. It’s just not for the Cubs… it opens up other players and teams for the same issue. I’m guessing this is why the process is crawling.
That’s exactly why it should have taken two weeks. A) the Cubs followed the rules. They should t be punished for following the procedure agreed to and signed into a contract by the players union.
B) The league isn’t then going to hear a grievance from 50 other players that went through the same thing. There’s no way they allow this to go Bryant’s way
That implies the arbitrator isn’t truly independent and for the sake of expediency would decide for the owner. The Cubs may win this one but it’s not a foregone conclusion.
I think he doesn’t know what arbitration is.
You beat me to it. I’m guessing that because of the league wide ramifications, the independent arbitrator is doing his due diligence in order to make sure precedence isn’t set. If he sides with KB(which I doubt) every player who was or will be in a similar situation will want there bite at the apple.
I’m sure there is a lot of investigating going into the Cubs personnel and whether they ever made obvious comments through email or text that would prove they held Bryant down for service time manipulation. With that being said, even if they can prove it, did the Cubs break the rules by doing so? Couldn’t the Cubs argue that it was an additional reason to hold him back along with the fact that a few more weeks would allow him to develop more, they weren’t expected to heavily contend in 2015 (even though they did).
Unless there’s an email or text somewhere from a Cubs executive saying “We are 100% doing this to save ourselves from having to attempt to extend Bryant a year earlier and keep Bryant around an extra year.” Otherwise, you can argue that the service time thing was a factor, but there were other factors as well, which as long as they are reasonable, kills Bryant’s side of the dispute.
Thank you!! Well within the rules.
If you guys honestly think that MLB doesn’t have enough money to purchase an arbitration decision, you are the ones who haven’t been paying attention.
There is more than one arbitrator – a list from which the plaintiff can strike someone they believe may be biased against them. Their bios are available to both sides and although it’s not a crime to be biased (ex: a potential arbitrator may have previously been a labor lawyer) it’s a bit prejudicial to assume corruption on the part of either side.
If this goes against the Cubs then say hello to agents and arbitrators dictating the 26 man roster for every team. Not even lowly White Sox fans want that.
What about lowly cvbs fans?
Lowly Cubs and as
low as you can go
Cub fans don’t want it either.
Every time it comes to spending money…. all you hear from Cubs owner is cRicketts!!
Hahaha, nice job.
I don’t see the Cubs ponying up the money that Bryant is going to want, nor the years that he’ll want. He’s been rather fragile over the last couple of years. I think best to move on and use those dollars to better round out the roster.
At least 147 games all but one season, so no.
The 2018 season was the only one where he fell just under 400 AB’s. In 2019 he had 543 AB’s and 147 games played, very comparable to his career norm that anyone would consider a healthy season.
I could see the cubs over paying him. Alfonso Soriano 2.0
Would 8/$240M be an overpay in your opinion? In 5 years players of Bryant’s caliber will be making $40 mil per year. Salaries are stupid ridiculous now but that’s the market. Unfortunately we as fans are the ones who end up paying. Regardless, I don’t think 8/240 is unrealistic for KB. That said, I do t believe the cubs will end up extending all 3 of KB, Baez, and Rizzo. I think 2 out of KB, Contreras, and Schwarber will eventually be traded.
If I were Rickett’s, I’d extend Baez, KB, and eventually Rizzo while trading Contreras and one of Schwarber or Happ if a good deal arose. Happ is a guy who I think will increase his trade value substantially this coming season. Q or Hendricks could potentially be trade pieces as well. With Hoerner, Caratini, Bote and Amaya the infield should be set for years to come. Rebuild the system centered around pitching and outfielders.
Contreras is one of the best players at his position and Bryant is good but you keep a premium catcher first.
Yeah getting hit in the helmet by a 95mph fastball. I was in the standing only the upper deck and I heard the crack of the helmet.
Take that same pitch. And then say Kris Bryant is fragile
Go Cubs Go
i hear ya!
Lame and annoying spam.
Spam is good in fried rice
Hawaiians eat the most SPAM per capita.
Aloha houken, as KSmom mentioned, we do eat the most spam! I wish spam, rice and eggs could help the Cubs turn it around. Maybe Ross will offer it as a reward for hitting certain goals. Hou’li makahiki hou, Happy New Year. Mahalo
And kimchi, bacon, and a ton of mozzarella.
Fried Spam and white rice>>>
Like most of you comments?
Fun Police?
What could possibly be fun about Go Cubs Go multiple times a day, week after week, month after month, year after year? Show some consideration. Most of the people here are not Cubs fans after all. Fun my arse. Once a week or something, ok, but this…?
Do you need some tissues?
Spam, egg, sausage and spam. That’s not got much spam in it.
And take the Bears with you.
Can the Cubs file a grievance against the league for holding Bryant’s case up for so long?
Seems like it has paralyzed the FO there as it’s the most logical way to get some cash off the books and some form of prospect back in the org.
Too bad Cubs made up a bogus excuse for KB to not start Opening Day.
Maybe they should have been proactive and given KB a LT contract like the Sox do for their stud prospects!
I wouldn’t look at the White Sox as the good guys. Everybody knows they would have done the same thing with Jimenez and Robert if they didn’t sign those very team-friendly contracts and give up millions in the future.
Every team has at least one, and likely multiple players they held down when they didn’t need too, but yeah the Sox give out 2 contracts for way below market value and are super hero’s, only a White Sox fan could think that
It’s a good model that fans like and should be followed by more teams. Fans want players to stick with their teams long term. The players get a huge payday and the team gets some upside.
There’s still a lot of risk to these contracts. Are they going to be an Acuna or a Jorge Soler when they are called up?
just like a sox fan to go out of their way to hate on the cubs instead of focus on their team doing well. status quo
Brewski – Jealous?!
No one is jealous of the White Sox, they’re still largely irrelevant in their own city.
I like the team and what they’re doing, shame the fans are garbage.
Give up millions? Dude this is assinine
1) Nobody “knows” they would’ve held both players down. We can assume it, but you can’t prove anything.
2) Neither of those contracts are “very team-friendly.” Both we’re compensated very reasonably and will only be “steals” if they turn into superstars quickly. If you want to complain about young players being ripped off, look at the Braves.
The cubs are morally wrong here and every one knows it but what do you expect from them and their fans.
How is it way below market? They are offering these players life changing money and they are not guaranteed to succeed in the Major leagues.
“Morally wrong”??? Ha. They have every right to manage their organization how they see fit so long as they follow the rules, which they did.
Maybe the Padres will file a grievance when Paddack and Tatis come up too free agency a year earlier than they needed too.
Well said Chester. It is their fans who are the issue
How are they morally wrong
Do you even know what players make in the minors? There’s negative security for themselves or their families if an injury occurs which furthers their devaluation over time. Get with the program.
Morally wrong!!! Really!
Just wondering’themed’, were the white Sox also ‘morally wrong’, To their fans – by tanking over these last 8 years?
The white Sox are status quo? That proves your hate.
Morally wrong?? This was a business decision that nearly all teams make to keep one more year of control. If rules need to be adjusted, then adjust, but based on current rules they seem in line?
I can legally take my 9mm and shoot both my dogs in the head.
It would be morally wrong to do so, unless dogs were attacking me, or they were mortally injured or sick and suffering.
Just becaue you can LEGALLY do something doesnt make it right.
If it was my pooch, I’d have no moral misgivings about offing Fido., regardless of the circumstances; it’s my property and I’ll choose how to dispose of it or exploit it. The rationale for a legal code is among other things, removing subjective perceptions of morality as a basis for sanctioning individual life choices. A MLB GM who maximizes profits via legally binding, non-coercive contractual agreements is neither immoral or illegal unless you believe that coercion of team owners and GM’s by the State is moral.
Morality has nothing to do with a baseball contract. They didn’t commit a crime against humanity by keeping a player in the minors. They made a business decision that has allowed both employer and employee to benefit. Bryant is my favorite Cub, and I know he is going to continue to get paid tens of millions for the next six years.
Mike Olt was the opening day starter and got hurt. Either way, it’s a clause the MLB Inion agreed to. It would be a stupid business decision for a team not to leverage.
Plus it was 10 extra days. Big deal. They did nothing wrong
Give me a break. Every team does the same thing and frankly I don’t care. The PA agreed to the rules and knew exactly what they meant.
Without some smoking gun email from Epstein to Hoyer saying “Yeah, we need to keep him down one more game so we get that extra year of arbitration. Even if he can help the team today.” how can you prove anything as bogus legally?
I’m sure that’s what a lot of teams would like to do in that situation. The thing is there are many players come from many different backgrounds. Some prefer to lock up money early and some prefer to bet on themselves.
chisox_fan as always has a useless comment. This is a business, MLB has a contract and poor Bryant had to struggle by on only $248,000.00 a WEEK. Dump him and his 15 errors and move on. I hate crybabies almost as much as I do Sox fans.
Misery_gm… another jealous fan!
You should know ChiSox
I know u r but what am I!?
@chisox_fan zip up your fly, your immaturity is showing.
Kris is better and already had millions from his signing bonus. If he would have accepted that kind of money, he would be locked up. Reading through your posts, I can tell logic isn’t your strong suit, so I understand the stupid comparison.
White Sox fans are the worst…team has basically paid $100m for Luis Robert w/o a single MLB hit. And after paying a slightly better than league avg pitcher almost $20m/year and assembling four DHs now they talk like they are contenders. Haha!!
Check ur math!
Dumbest comment that will be posted here all of 2020.
Congrats.
It’s called Scott Boras
BoGuS eXcUsE
Why
If the Tigers don’t want to give multiple years to Puig (which he presumably wants) maybe they should go after Kim.
Had the same thought. Here’s a post stating the Tigers need outfielders and that there’s an outfielder who desperately needs a team.
If nothing else, perhaps the Tigers could get some name recognition in Korea and grow their brand. Negative 1.7 WAR should be improved, too.
The problem is that we don’t know exactly how much Jae-Hwan Kim wants for a contract since his annual salary is $685,000 and he got a signing bonus of $141,000 in the KBO.
Problem is, Kim is quite a liability in the OF. Really more a 1B/DH type. .
No one has paralyzed the Cubs front office, except the Ricketts. Crying broke, when they’re clearly not, is sickening! Are there a couple contracts that they’d like to get out of, sure. Every mlb team could say the same! The Cubs have purchased nearly all of the property surrounding Wrigley, which generates a lot of money! Games more often than not are sold out, in a major market! And let’s not forget the Cubs network that launches this year! The Cubs are FAR from being broke or cash strapped or whatever you want to call it. The owner doesn’t want to pay the luxury tax. It’s that simple. Instead of sustaining success, they’re happy with the 2016 title. Now they’re letting the team sink back into mediocrity. Letting allstars walk for no return, potentially trading away young, MVP calibur stars. To try and get…. young stars
post a spreadsheet of their accounts. since you know so much about it.
Or you could simply open your eyes, look around, read articles published that contain quotes. Or you post a spreadsheet, disputing what is pretty common knowledge
How about you provide some sources then?
The blame falls on Theo and the front office. They have spent an enormous amount of resources including dollars and prospects on pitching alone because they have been an abject failure in developing homegrown pitchers. Not one of note since Theo took over. Imagine if they developed one or two pitchers and didn’t sign Darvish or Hamels or Chatwood? How about holding on to Jimenez and Cease instead of trading for Quintana? How about trading the limited Schwarber when his value was at it’s peak?
The Cubs have a budget. Are you suggesting Theo didn’t know this or it was changed on him at some point? Provide the evidence. Otherwise, it was poor planning to get them here. None of this should be a surprise to the Cubs FO. Teams plan out payroll and lineups years in advance.
According to David Kaplan he stated that the Cubs initially wanted to invest a little over $500m into Wrigley and the surrounding area, but they blew past that number and it is going to end up over $1b according to the Ricketts. Supposedly, this was not going to affect payroll. Maybe it did? These investments should increase revenue for the team and tax revenue for the city.
Regarding the Cubs TV Network. From the Chicago Sun-Times, Sep 26,2019. “The new TV deal, at least for the first few years, means the exact same thing for us as the old deal,” Epstein told reporters Wednesday in Pittsburgh, referring to the team’s contracts with WGN, WLS and NBC Sports Chicago. “The first few years will basically replicate the old deal with potential for real growth [in future seasons].”
How about the deal that the Rickets made with Tribune and the enormous debt? The Ricketts took full control of the Cubs in 2019. The following is courtesy of cubsinsider.com, Jan 25, 2019
“The dissolution of the partnership will have several ramifications on the Cub’ finances and payrolls going forward. For example, I explained in a previous column that the leveraged partnership needed to stay leveraged (a fancy word for being in debt) for tax reasons. Thus, the Cubs hold about $425 million in debt, on which they pay around $30 million per year in interest. With the Tribune gone, the Cubs are now free to pay off the debt and avoid that annual expense. This obviously could free up extra money for future payrolls.
Paying off the debt will also allow the Cubs to spend a little more on payroll in the future for a second reason. The collective bargaining agreement (CBA) has a debt service rule that requires teams in debt to limit spending in certain ways. The rule exists to prevent teams from taking on more debt than they can afford to pay (unless a very popular former player heads up a group to buy a team like the Miami Marlins). The precise rules are complicated and would require a substantial explanation, but the short version is that the Cubs were prohibited from spending about $10-15 million a year to comply”
Dude, no one comes here to read a 7 paragraph retort! All of that….. still no spreadsheet, mildly disappointing. Anyway. No one is arguing that Theo has done a great job with pitching, or every deal has been great. The fact is, that even though building costs have give over budget and other financial restraints have been in place, they’ve still generated millions. Do you really think that billionaires would take on a deal where they made nothing?? Or that they’d release all earnings to the public… LMAO!!! BASEBAL HAS NO HARD CAP. They don’t want to continue to pay the luxury tax ! Plain and simple. They’ve said as much. Google it Mr Type-y McParagraphs
Anthony must work for the Cubs. He just spouts the team talking points
Anthony posted his thesis from Princeton.
@ Anthony Princeton;
Great post!
Depending on the source, the Cubs had either the 1st or 3rd highest MLB payroll in 2019. They finished 3rd in the NLC.
Epstein and his crew just waste money. The owner has been calling for responsible spending the last 2 years – yet they continue to spend frivolously.
The truth is this – Theo Epstein and company have been lapped by most MLB FO’s. He’s no longer in Boston where he and the Yankees could outspend on free agents and take on high salaries in trade for players whose teams could not afford to pay the rest of their contracts. The field has leveled some, with more to come. Cashman adjusted. Epstein has not.
Coupled with fact Theo has failed to draft any pitching. Thus massive expenditure of prospects & FA dollars.
Id read 100 paragraphs from one Anthony Princeton before I would want to read a single one from you amigo-
Truth and facts always hits the hardest, nice work Anthony
Luxury tax is basically a soft salary cap. With salaries skyrocketing the PA screwed up big time by allowing there to be any type of salary cap. We have pretty good players getting paid 20mil a year now and superstars in the 30-40 range now.
As an owner I wouldn’t want to go over the cap either since you are setting yourself up for headaches down the road. Look at the Red Sox. Next CBA luxury tax needs to go. Instead just increase revenue sharing and require that small market teams increase their payroll or forfeit that revenue share.
I like that idea. That way the small market teams will be forced to put players on the field rather then pocketing that money. It’s what’s best for baseball. We’ll have better games instead of squash games.
I believe there will continue to be a soft cap – i.e. penalties for going over it. And I believe that major revenue sharing is about to occur.
More then half the owners in MLB are fed up with the disparity in revenue – whereby the large market franchises overpay each year for the star players, thereby setting new market prices on players that the majority of franchises cannot possibly pay to sign like players on their current roster.
A big fight is on the horizon for the next CBA, and it won’t be between the players and owners – it will be between the large market owners and the 20-22 others. To get a feel for who wins……count the votes.
Agreed there needs to be increased rev sharing and def a min salary cap- Id also like to see a cap at the top as well but thats a pipe dream
Ricketts = Disney wannabe, and all those loyal, family-owned, surrounding businesses are now dropped for the new corporate development plan. Way to go. I used to live near Wrigley. I would not recommend anyone now but Goofy living in that crystal palace. Solid plan, not.
You know I’m glad Brodie got Betances but no connection between the Cespedes contract and the Betances signing? Really? We’re still talking about the Wilpons right?
I’m thinking it was more the signing of Porcello. The Cespedes thing wasn’t a done deal yet, but I’m sure he knew where thr negotiations were heading.
I feel like Bryant is the guy they should build around. He’s the most marketable guy they have. Baez and Schwarbers K’s would scare the heck out of me. Rizzo doesn’t play a premium position and is the oldest of the core. Lesters money comes off the books next year, maybe move him. I think his track record and it being only a year might make him appealing. I’m just not sure why the Cubs seem so eager to dump him.
Most marketable? Javy Baez says Hi!
Bryant has been more consistent in putting up elite production.
Yes, in errors.
Id say Javy is one of the most popular baseball players in the world, especially amongst the little leaguers.
So is Bartolo Cologne.
Perfume? LOL! I’d love to see Big Sexy come back and make the four decade club.
Oh Jeebus… someone needs to bottle that and make millions. Big Sexy – by Bartolo Cologne
His 15 errors led the team and he didn’t even respond to a contract extention offer with a counter offer. Been a cubs fan for over 65 years and no matter what he says now, I don’t believe the Cubs mean much to him as being the next “highest paid” player. Dump him.
I think Bryant ends up in Sea. They have some money and a little bit coming up. I think they’ll trade Hanigan. Sea reloads the next two drafts while trading off non long-term players for prospects. They’ll draft a position player or two but mainly focus on pitching then look to add Correa, Bryant, Springer, and Seager.
I love your optimism as a Seattle fan but why two shortstops?
Correa’s hurt so often? When they’re both healthy, one DHes?
May as well have the Cubs and Astros work out a deal and cut Seattle right out.
Bryant and Amaya for Correa and Toro. Baez moves to 2B, Bote and Toro compete for 3B and Hoerner goes back to AAA. Bregman moves to SS.
In terms of fan trades, and I’m not saying it’s likely to happen, that’s not the craziest proposal at all.
Agreed. It’s the bold, risky moves like this where if one player is injured or the player you deal becomes All-World you lose your job. I don’t see this happening either.
Yes, send KB to Seattle to never be seen or heard from again.
Speaks volumes that the Indians, who could really use Puig, have no interest. Having said that, Puig to the Jays makes sense. Giants?
*Seemingly have no interest.
I actually think it possible that the Cubs might get more for Bryant in June than at the end of January. Someone somewhere is going to get hurt playing for a competitive team, and that team might be desperate to add Bryant for a season and a half. Depends on how things fall the next week or so with JD and Arenado.
Not that this would inspire any Tiger fan to perform feats of dare, but Victor Reyes would have to be included with the above mentioned outfield trio. His WAR being higher than Jones, Stewart and Castro by my calculations. Pencil him in right and thank me later.
I think BVW has a big move up his sleeve..
Trade Rosario, Nimmo, Smith, Peterson and Alvarez to Cle for Lindor and DeSheilds Jr.
Trade Nimmo, Gsellman, Gimenez, Smith and Gonzalez to Pit for Marte and Kela
Trade JD Davis, Nimmo, Matz, Lowrie, Smith, Gimenez and Vientos to Col for Arrenado
Trade Syndergaard, Nimmo and Lowrie to Bos for Betts and low level prospect
J.D. Davis just put up a 136 wRC+, compared to Arenado’s 128. I’m not saying he’s a better player, since defense obviously counts, but J.D. Davis is making something on the order of 5 or 6 hundred thousand next year, compared to Arenado’s $35 million..
Is Arenado, minus Coors field, $34 million better than Davis?.
Yeah, I don’t see any true blockbuster moves by BVW after what happened last off-season. The one move I could see is a version of a suggestion on risingapple.com – Lowrie, Gsellman, and cash for Soria. The contract difference is not that great and the A’s are interested in bringing Lowrie back.
It’s pretty cool how you came up with 4 different trade scenarios involving the Mets spare parts in exchange for premium players. Literally none of those would happen.
The one to the Pirates could happen but shouldn’t.
And how is Amed Rosario a spare part? He’s the starting shortstop, is beginning to turn the corner, and is only 24. If Nimmo can stay healthy, that Pirates’ deal listed above would be a vast overpay.
I think the Mets need to put the Marte idea (unless it’s Ketel ;)) aside. A healthy Nimmo platooning with Marisnick gives you about as good a product as Starling Marte for a fraction of the cost.
No,no,no and no lol that’s to those 4 terrible trade offers to the Mets They need another RP and a young C unless they think Alvarez will be good.
Yeah there’s still a lot of question marks in that bullpen. I’d like to see them make a run at Hudson but they don’t have the $$$ he’ll command
I’m want none of your Mets trades. Thank you.
Maybe the Tigers can trade Boyd & a top minor league pitcher( To the Giants for Yastrzemski).
Yaz is not going anywhere !!
He was one of the bright spots last season for the Giants.
I’ve been out and about.
He doesn’t even have 400 ML Ab’s . He still has a long way to go. We had Chris Shelton & Brenan Boesch, both looked like Mantle then faded. Good young player so far though.
I think DET wants to get younger. Connor Shaw and Connor Menez types.
Just one more screw up at the top of MLB. Manfred and his entire “lets ruin baseball” crew should be run out of town.
Well Tigers have Victor Reyes too who is probably their best OF right now. The you have Stewart and Jones. Still, it would be nice to see a RF added. If not Puig… then get creative and go for an outside of the box option like Eric Thames. If he is willing to convert… it would give Tigers a big lefty bat for their order. Should be cheaper and most likely will sign a one year deal. Thames has played in the OF in the past.
I don’t believe for one minute that statement that Bryant wants to be a life time Cub! I’ve always felt he was the one Cub that doesn’t fit in. I don’t trust him and wouldn’t miss him. I don’t think they will get the haul in return that they think but he fits the bill as the one player who can help them get under the luxury tax threshold that the Cubs desperately want to avoid!!
Bryant for Boyd. Everyone’s happy. Nobody sad.
Why would the tigers want bryant?
Kobi for Oil Can.
Why wouldn’t the Tigers want Bryant? He’s better than anyone on their team if they could sign him.
It was a joke. Why did you fall for it?
The tigers are going to have to offer way more than Just Boyd. The Tigers have a worst farm than the cubs
It was a joke. Why did you fall for it?
The Tigers should absolutely be after Puig… he’d become the best player on the team, he’d likely take a 1 year deal, and the Tigers could certainly afford him… something like $6m guaranteed with $4m in incentives.. A small investment like that gives them a fighting chance of at least putting a marginally competitive team out there. The current Tigers OF is in dire straits, with a bunch of very fringe, unestablished players.
Miggy would be a good hitting mentor to Puig.
I agree, rebuilding clubs should be trying to snag Puig on a 1 year deal because he has the potential to put up a monster year and give back a ton of positive value. He would be perfect to flip to a contender if he bounces back.
Even if he doesn’t develop a trade market, it’s a short commitment and gives your fans something entertaining to watch next year.
Harold Castro is considered the Tiger starting outfielder? What happened to Victor Reyes? He had a decent season. Hit .300 and played a decent outfield, some CF. Castro is a 2B that was thrown out there because of injuries and Castellanos getting traded. Heck, Reyes had a better WAR than Castellanos.
I don’t know why I would assume mlbtr would know anything about the Tigers.
We have players in Toledo who did their time, and are due a shot. IMO Woodrow, Peterson, and Robson all deserve a shot.
I honestly don’t see how Bryant’s grievance has much standing. The rules are collectively bargained and very clear. Bryant’s team can state they feel the Cubs did not act in good faith in applying the CBA, but an arbitrator would be hard pressed to set a league wide precedent over that claim.
I’m saying that with 100% confidence the Cubs did not act in good faith, just as many other clubs have done in many other cases.
Am I the only one hoping Puig doesn’t even get an offer?
Yeah sure Brodie , Cespedes re doing his contract had nothing to do with Betances getting paid. Just like the Ukraine deal. No Pro Quo. Laughable
I think its bs for teams to be allowed to do that, but at the same time every team has done it… This case should have been settled quickly siding with the cubs, but also should bring a new rule to prevent it going forward
If the players union in the CBA allowed teams to keep a player down as part of the negotiated agreement please explain how it is bs for the Cubs to do what the players specifically agreed to allow them to do
Bryant’s an overrated player.
How is that relevant to the issue being discussed?
KB is a non story.
KB not worth anyone’s time to talk about how greedy he is.
Stop calling players greedy because you make ten bucks an hour.
Scott Boras is the greedy talentless agent that wants him out of Chicago. Boras is a greedy slimy dude that gets like 10% or more from all his clients. Which is probably at least 15% of the league.
That’s $10 more than U, Heckler!
No, no, no guys. Chisox_ fan is a very thoughtful and objective commenter here. If KB were on the Sox, I’m sure he’d be just as critical.
Complete Bs with Bryant, the Cubs did nothing wrong /out of the ordinary =
If we dont recognize rules when they are in place what else do we have left?
Slam the gavel on this nonsense already
With all the talent Yasiel Puig has, his enigmatic and high maintenance personality are keeping him from a multi-million dollar contract during his prime years. He’s built like a brick house and is throwing arm is electric.
Even if there was communication stating they held him off the 25 man for that exact reason they had and still have every right to do so by the CBA. Which was agreed to by players and teams alike. I get Bryant’s argument but rules are rules are rules. None of which were broken. Does it stink for players? Sure. But if they don’t like it then bring it to the table during the next CBA.
The union, players and agents should not be able to set rosters. Plain and simple.
My understanding going into the offseason wasn’t necessarily the Cubs having to shed payroll only their lack of payroll flexibility to spend. I thought they would try to improve the 2020 team by selling off some future years on a guy like Bryant or eat some money on a bad deal to get some money off the books to reinvest. All I seem to be hearing about so far is just decreasing payroll. Maybe that’s just step one we shall see
They had 55 mil off the books not including arbitration contracts.
Therefore they had 55 mil to spend.
How is it possible to still be over the tax threshold when you take 55mil off the books.
The Tigers should trade for Nick Williams of the Phillies. There’s no room for him in Philly and he could use a change of scenery. He’s a player that could jump right into their starting lineup and is still controllable for several more years as they try to work their way out of this rebuild. How about Joe Jimenez for Nick Williams, straight up?
Or how about Odubel Herrera, Nick Williams & David Robertson for Jordan Zimmerman and Joe Jimenez. Hmmm?
I think the Tigers would be all over that! You don’t want Zimmerman. Honestly, (as a Tiger’s fan) I don’t see what the hype is in Jimenez. Hopefully he turns it around. I would absolutely love this trade
Basically what that trade would do is rid ourselves of Odubel and of a pitcher who wont throw a pitch next year. The 3 for 2 would free up a roster spot for the Phillies and the money would equal out. Zimmerman could compete for the 5th starter spot or work out of the pen in long relief. Jimenez would give us another 7th or 8th inning option that we need with a lot of guys down there coming off of elbow injuries. Maybe the Tigers can throw in cash or a mid level prospect.
I completely forgot about Odubel’s off the field issues. I highly doubt Detroit would deal.
The Ricketts are in the MLB business to make money and not spend money. The Ricketts did what they had to do to finally give the Cubs’ fans their first World Series in 108 years. It was obvious the Cubs manipulated Bryant’s service time by holding him in AAA for those few days to gain that one extra year control over him. The Cubs organization made their money off Bryant with jersey sales and now they feel like it should not have to pay him the money he is looking for in the future.
250mil over 8 or 9 years is plenty fair. However. They need pitching and the Braves need someone at 3rd.
Cubs should make extension offers to Bryant and Rizzo and try to play up their friendship to keep both there long-term. Move another piece or two to cut costs if that is so necessary.
Yup that needs to happen. Extend Bryant Rizzo and Baez within two years. The 3rd year extend Schwarber and Contreras. Obviously they wont but they could if they really wanted too.
Bryant hired Scott Boras because an obscene amount of money is very important to him. He filed a grievance against the Cubs, again because money is very important to him. Now, when he says that he would like to be a Cub for life I think it’s reasonable to assume that it again has to do with money and that he doesn’t want to alienate a potential bidder.
The issue with Bryant’s service time is a CBA issue, shouldn’t even be grievable. The PA should have rectified it with MLB the right way years ago. The Cubs played by the rules, you can’t blame them. I’m with Bryant though, if you’re ready a week after Opening day, you were ready for Opening Day. The Mets don’t do much right, but how they treated Pete Alonso’s service time was the right way.
As a fan of Bryant’s, his numbers have taken a hit from being put in the 2 hole for most of his career. His job is more to get on base than swing for the fences. The numbers prove that and have slimmed down his power numbers and RBI opportunities.
If they had kept him batting 3rd with Rizzo 4th he’d have done better. We can blame our former genius manager Joe Moron for that one. I don’t even get why KB can file a grievance so many years later? He just wants to be paid more than he should be. BTW Good luck to Mike Trout with having Joe be manager. Then again Trout is a 3 hitter and they had him at 2 which is beyond stupid.
That would be great. Get a extension done. Extend KB now. Extend Rizzo and Baez Winter Meetings 2020.