Chicago Cubs: Kris Bryant not ready for extension
With Chicago Cubs season over, it’s time for the team to think about their future.
One player who figures to play a prominent role in the Chicago Cubs future is Kris Bryant. However, Bryant doesn’t seem eager to sign on for the long-term any time soon.
According to reports, Bryant recently turned down an extension worth “significantly more than $200 million” from the Cubs. With Scott Boras representing Bryant, this should come as no surprise.
Boras clients routinely avoid extensions that buy out multiple years of arbitration and Bryant is no different. With still three more season’s of arbitration left for Bryant, turning down this extension may be a bad move.
The 26-year-old played in just 102 games while struggling with shoulder issues during the 2018 season and his numbers suffered. Bryant hit .272 with an underwhelming .834 on-base plus slugging percentage. His power numbers were way down as he hit just 13 home runs while finishing with a paltry 52 runs batted in.
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Last season was by far the worst of his brief career to this point so it makes sense that the Cubs would try to lock him down at a lower cost. For his career, Bryant has already hit 107 home runs and owns a .285 batting average.
Bryant figures to be among baseballs elite for the next five seasons or more. However, turning down $200 million is a risky proposition for anybody. Although he is only entering his age 27 season next year, Bryant has already demonstrated durability issues and that $200 million may not be there when he reaches free agency.
However, it’s more likely than not that this season will be an aberration and Bryant enjoys a long healthy career. Bryant is an important piece for the Chicago Cubs future and it’s unlikely he’s playing for a different team any time soon.
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Money will never be an issue for the Cubs. Assuming Bryant rebounds from a down year this season, he’ll have the opportunity to make even more than the $200 million he recently turned down.