Bryant Very Candid Yet Again on The Compound, it’s “Absurd” to Think He’s Unhappy in Chicago

The narrative shouldn’t even be there any longer, but many are out there nearly guaranteeing that Kris Bryant will not be in Chicago after the 2021 season. Not only that, but these same folks tend to pass along made-up notions like Bryant resents the Cubs for the service time manipulation, and the grievance and the rest. Or the fact that Scott Boras is his agent, he is only in the game for the money. Or he’s soft.

Bryant has been very sincere about these narratives in the past, but they continue to creep. I’ve never understood the criticism on Bryant, I’ve never understood the huge draw to crap on him for things fans have built up in their own head. But, time and time again, Bryant has stood up in front of the mic and has dispelled every single horribly inaccurate narrative there is. He did again when he joined “The Compound” with Ian Happ, Dakota Mekkes, and Zack Short where he addressed these narratives, yet again.

When he was asked about his contract or potential contract negotiations, he got pretty real. He does get upset over the rumors that fly around, he specifically called out the folks that just continue to pass along these rumors while doing absolutely no research or have listened to a single thing he’s ever said. While he understands the idea, the narrative isn’t based on reality.

“The biggest thing for me, is the trade rumors and the narrative that has surrounded me that people just completely don’t understand or they haven’t done any research or they haven’t heard any of the interviews that I’m talking about,” Bryant said while being audibly upset. “The idea that I’m upset here or like I don’t want to be in Chicago, like ‘He just wants to leave in free agency or this and that.’

“When have I ever said that? I have nothing but great things to say about everybody in this organization and field and city. Like, where’s all this coming from? I don’t know if I’ve ever come across that way or any of that.”

I like the dynamic of teammates talking about this. I also think that a person who is as genuine as Bryant is, plays much better in this sort of concept than a lot of other athletes. Bryant appears to be very liked by his teammates in a very honest way. When you hear peers talking about something like contracts or trade rumors, they’re much more open with each other and I enjoyed hearing Happ add to the conversation on his feelings having gone through similar rumors.

An exchange that was very enjoyable was when Happ added how absurd some rumors tend to be. To which Bryant agreed.

“It is so absurd, it is so absurd,” Bryant replied. “You have to handle the media a certain way, and I’m very guilty of kind of giving just very vanilla answers because I just don’t want it to create a story where it’s like, ‘No, that’s not what I said.’ Put the whole quote out there of what I said, not just the headline or not just the clickbait.”

Then Bryant added a note, one which makes me feel that these guys talk quite a bit about being a Cub and even external issues like free agency or rumors.

“We all know how I feel about playing here and everything that I’ve accomplished here and have done here, I want to continue to do here.”

During this exchange, Happ noted that “the fact that people would think, or any writer or reporter or fan, whatever would think that someone who has come up in the city, won the Rookie of the Year, won the MVP, won a World Series [first time in 108 years] in this city, would ever want to leave, like, when a flag would be flown if he stayed here for his whole career.”

This is something I never hear anyone bring up. Yes, millions of dollars can help you get over a move or the fact that you might not be remembered as one of the greatest a team has ever had, but this is still a driving force behind all athletes. This is something that doesn’t happen in professional sports anymore – and it would be special if it did. The thought that players don’t understand that, is absurd and ignorant.

When it comes to the business side of baseball, Bryant doesn’t get the benefit of the doubt, and it is very likely because he employs Boras. It shouldn’t be the fault of the ballplayer if he hired the best representation in the game. While a lot of fans think Boras just steers his clients to free agency, you would be very wrong. It seems no other agent takes the heat that Boras does when ALL baseball agents have the vast majority of their clients go to free agency. Boras may do it louder than any other agent, which sheds a negative public opinion light on him, but many of his clients remain with the home team.

Bryant fully understands that people don’t appreciate what Boras provides his clients, but also wants people to understand that he’s doing what his clients want.

“Listen, Scott is…I’ve always had conversations with Scott and he’s like, ‘I want to do exactly what is right for you and your family,” Bryant explained. “I don’t need to do this for you, I don’t need to do that for you. If you want to stay in Chicago, that’s a very real option for you.’

“Scott has this big name, but he does what his clients want him to do and he always fights for his clients. I understand some of the hate for him because he always fights for his dudes like they’re his own children. Which is what you want from your agent, but just because my agent is Scott Boras doesn’t mean I’m some greedy…I’ve never been described as greedy.”

People won’t change their minds on Bryant or Boras. I know that by now. But hopefully, if you keep providing actual evidence on what Bryant’s intentions are, they will finally start understanding that possibly the best player to step into a Cubs uniform since Ernie Banks wants to play here for the rest of his career.

I know, I know… if he wants to be a Cub so bad, why did he turn down a deal worth “more than $200 million“? Well, quite simply, it never happened. Yes, there have been conversations about an extension in the past, however, there hasn’t been anything with real traction since before the 2018 season. I know you read the articles upon articles about a $200 million deal, but many within the industry have proven this to have never happened. Bryant has never been presented with an offer, and outside normal conversations between an organization and an agent, talks never progressed to the point where there could be an offer made.

Bryant has said on multiple occasions that he would love to see that offer, which leads me to believe it would be something he would be open to potentially accepting. We are likely at a point where the naysayers won’t let up unless he is offered a deal and he accepts. But they are validated if it doesn’t happen.

Either way, now more than ever is a time to approach Bryant about a long-term extension. He has said he is likely more open to an extension now, after the birth of his first child, than he has ever been before. AND HE’S ALWAYS BEEN OPEN TO AN EXTENSION! So why not!? Why wouldn’t the folks that make decisions for the Cubs back the Brinks truck up and start peeling stacks until they reach a number he’s able to accept?

Then, keep it there to talk extension with Javier Baez as well.