More Optimism than Ever for a Bryant Extension

On Tuesday, Chicago Cubs president, Jed Hoyer explained that he expected to discuss extensions with all the team’s core players during Spring Training. There will be an open dialog between the Cubs and Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, and Kris Bryant. It is expected that this will be the biggest push the Cubs have made to sign any of these star players, hoping to keep them all around for several more years.

“I’ll definitely sit down with those guys during spring training and talk to them about their futures and we’ll talk about contracts,” Hoyer said during a press conference in Mesa. “We’ll have those discussions over the course of spring, and it’s a perfect time for it.”

The concept is easy, the execution is hard. While they will have these conversations with each of those three players, they will also have conversations with Ian Happ and Willson Contreras – two players that have earned an extension here in Chicago. There’s also the idea that there just isn’t enough money to go around. While this is somewhat true, the Cubs are still are $40 million under the CBT for the 2021 season, much lower than that the following two seasons, and creative language can keep them under the Competitive Balance Tax (CBT).

Regardless of how these conversations go down, I’ve heard that Kris Bryant will be more than willing to listen. In fact, it sounds like his camp is more optimistic than ever something can get done.

There has not been an official offer to Bryant as yet (no, for the 12 millionth time, David Kaplan’s story was incorrect). The two sides have had conversations, but those didn’t materialize into a deal. I understand that it might sound as if I’m mincing words, but this is the truth. Yes, Scott Boras and the Cubs have discussed, from a high-level overview, what a deal could look like. But, this isn’t haggling over a pair of socks at the flea market, they have conversations and when there’s a concept that might make sense, the team provides an actual paper offer. Then there are some negotiations from there.

The talks between the Cubs and Boras (and Bryant) had never moved past the, “we like you, you like us” stage. The Cubs have done the song and dance in front of reporters, telling the world they love what he brings (duh, you’d have to be a fool not to). Bryant has done that same song and dance as well. He’s told any reporter that’s ever asked he wants to be here. He’s told his agent that he prefers to be in Chicago (and Boras has previously told him that’s a real possibility). He’s told his teammates, friends, family. Heck, I heard that one day when he was styling his faux hawk he told his reflection that he wants to stay a Cub.

Also, no… there has never been ill will towards the club for the service time manipulation. There likely is some some resentment surrounding how much and often Bryant’s name has been in trade rumors. In fact, one person I spoke to suggested, “all this trade talk has been a major league load of bullshit.”

The easy way to combat this is, give Bryant a full no trade clause in his deal. Not only does Bryant wish to be a Cub for the rest of his career, but this is a likely tactic he and Boras will take. This has actually been the sentiment that I have seen, with people that have “in’s” with Camp KB.

100% accurate.

Three words: NO. TRADE. CLAUSE.

Nip the trade rumor factory in the bud for good!#KB17 #Cubs https://t.co/GGK1MbMIe8 pic.twitter.com/GIN2e6mjYe

— Kevin Fiddler (@KFidds) February 17, 2021

While there are no promises of a deal (cannot stress this enough since they haven’t sat down yet), however there seems to be some positive traction. Jed wants to sit down, players want to sit down. All good things can happen. I’ve been optimistic that every year between 1977 and 2021 the Cubs would win the World Series, I’ve been right once! (just ask my wife, doh). But, for those who believe the Cubs should do whatever they can to sign Bryant, get excited because they could be a handshake away.