Chicago Cubs: Kris Bryant comments on service time manipulation … again

The most recent MLB players Collective Bargaining Agreement has some serious problems and owners have figured out ways to manipulate them to their advantage. A Chicago Cubs star is fighting back.

We are seeing it in the MLB free agency marketplace, and we are seeing it when it comes to players and their routes to free agency. Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs is one of the most vocal players regarding manipulation of service time.

He’s been complaining about the loophole and how it will affect the latest crop of rookies like Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. and Eloy Jimenez.

Bryant is not the first to experience playing time manipulation, nor will he be the last. Unless the MLBPA makes some thoughtful changes. After having a good day at the plate on Monday, Bryant had something to say … again.

He told Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic:

“It was so obvious. I think they’re going to do it to (Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.). ‘Oh, he’s gotta work on his defense.’ Stuff like that. But now I can look back on it and just laugh about it because I was told to work on my defense too and I think I got three groundballs in those games that I played. So it’s like, ‘Oh, now he’s ready.’”

The rule regarding service time in the current MLBPA Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is in Article XXI and says: “A total of 172 days of Major League credited service will constitute one full year of credited service.”

This rule has been in place since the 2012-2016 CBA. Prior to that, players simply needed six years of service to become a free agent. Now, they need six years of 172 days to reach free agency. Boston College Law School student Patrick Kessock wrote a thorough research paper about Bryant’s situation and whether or not the MLB is acting with ill intent toward the Cubs All-Star and MVP. His conclusion was that ownership was simply acting on what was presented in the MLBPA CBA.

Essentially, Bryant’s complaint is that the Cubs waited until there was no way that he could accrue 172 days of service in his first year with the team. Instead of letting him start on Opening Day, he was held back in the minor leagues until April 17, 2015. This day appears to be specifically chosen because it would only give him 171 days of service time in 2015. So, Bryant has to work more than six years to get to free agency. He has to work six years and 171 days before he can enter free agency.

It might not hurt as much if his debut wasn’t one day shy of being considered a full year.

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Bryant’s complaint has some legs, but nothing in the CBA gives him any ammunition. That’s where the trouble lies. Bryant won the NL Rookie of the Year award in 2015 and he was the NL MVP in 2016, the same year the Chicago Cubs won the World Series. Being under control for one more year prevents him from cashing in on free agency. With his credentials, he should be able to get a substantial contract.

The Cubs may have slighted him on free agency, but they have paid him relatively well. In his rookie season, the Cubs paid him $652,000 and in 2015, he made just over $1 million. According to the CBA, MLB clubs can pay players league minimum for their first three years. There are performance bonuses that can be given. Bryant has never been paid league minimum. In 2018 his salary was $10.8 million and he will be paid $12.9 in 2019.

Bryant’s big problem is that he is a good player. He shouldn’t have been taken advantage of in this way, but who can blame Chicago Cubs ownership for doing what they can to add to the bottom line. Baseball is a business and businesses have lawyers who help them find loopholes.

Hopefully, Bryant and the rest of the MLBPA can do something to fix their problem and make the route to lucrative free agency go in their favor. Until then, it’s the contract they’ve got.