Chicago Cubs: Kris Bryant reportedly wants to be a Cub for life

During the offseason, the Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant has been rumored to want out of Chicago. Recently, Bryant disproved this rumor stating he wants to be a Cubs for his entire MLB career.

Kris Bryant, 27, is a part of the 2016 World Series core for the Chicago Cubs. During his short MLB career, the third baseman is a three-time All-Star, league MVP, 2015 Rookie of the Year, and a World Series Champion. Bryant has batted .284 and hit 138 home runs throughout his four-year career.

For the fanbase, Bryant is a very popular player. Since he was drafted, he has been hyped up as the savor of the Cubs. He has already won many awards and was apart of the World Series team.

In late 2018, Bryant didn’t accept a contract extension. He didn’t like the contract and wanted to test the market in 2021. Bryant said to a reporter “Everybody has money. We’re not stupid” in after declining a multi-year $200M contract. ‘We’re not stupid’ is referring to the MLBPA.

The latest rumor coming out of the Bryant camp is positive. Bryant wants to stay with the Cubs for his entire MLB career. If this is true and he signs an extension, this is huge for the team. As Bryant becomes a better player, he becomes a bigger asset to the team. He is just hitting his prime and that’s a scary thought for pitchers facing him.

What is important is getting the deal done with Bryant. The team needs to get him signed as soon as possible. The most recent news on contract talks involved the Washington Nationals making an “initial inquiry” for a trade involving Bryant.

Bryant’s agent Scott Boras has been discussing a long-term deal with the team since November 2019. As of right now, the team has his rights until 2021. They don’t need to come up with any deals right away. It is important to do so though if they’re serious about keeping Bryant for the long haul.

Bryant filing a grievance against the Cubs that will come in 2020. The team’s number one goal this offseason should be to make him happy. With Bryant having his first child in 2020, it’s safe to say the city he plays in will be where he stays with his young family.

It’s now or never with the Cubs to keep him. He is going to be paid $18.5M in 2020. The Salary Arbitration in 2021 would be the end of Bryant as a Cub if he isn’t signed by then. If they can get him to agree to a contract before April, the team will be in good hands. The sooner they can get this deal done, the sooner the team can fix some holes for 2020.