Kris Bryant trade marks end of era for Chicago Cubs

This is gonna be a tough play…Bryant….the Cubs…WIN THE WORLD SERIES!!! Bryant makes the play!!! It’s over!! And the Cubs…have finally won it all!!

Those words will forever be entrenched in the hearts of every Chicago Cubs fan who saw Kris Bryant make the play that ended a 108-year drought with a World Series win over the Cleveland Indians.

It is the end of an era as Kris Bryant leaves the Chicago Cubs

Unfortunately, that time has come and gone, as has Bryant’s tenure in the Windy City. His reaction, however, is, well, raw, just like the emotions of when his play gave Cubs fans glory that they never thought they would see.

Bryant’s departure to the San Francisco Giants via the MLB trade deadline cements the end of a glorious era headlined by Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, and Javier Báez. All members on the team that finally broke the curse, and all now out of Chicago.

Rizzo and Báez are now both in New York via trade, with the former as a member of the Yankees and the latter with the Mets.

What an era that was. Although 2016 was undoubtedly the pinnacle of the era, it was the other years in which Chicago tried to replicate its World Series victory that stands out; it never matured into place.

Also, the desire to hang on to these players for such a long time meant that admiration and affection existed, but the results never matriculated.

It was time to move on, ownership was reluctant to do so at first, and they finally did. Like Arthur, all good things have to come to an end. Scratch that; Arthur should never end; it’s a childhood staple.

This Cubs team, however, is a different story. It was well overdue that a rebuild had to take place, and the future was to be looked at more carefully, as opposed to constantly reminiscing on the past.

Saying goodbye to a player like Kris Bryant is never easy, but the Chicago Cubs had to move on at some point.

Don’t get it wrong. What Bryant gave to the City of Chicago is to be commended. He’s the only Cubs player to win Rookie Of The Year and MVP. And yes, as we mentioned before, for about the 108th time, he made the play to win the World Series.

But prolonging the inevitable only delays the heartbreak and disappointment further. The same can be said about Rizzo and Báez. Holding on to something for too long may sound like loyalty, but it hindered the ability to look further past the once-in-a-lifetime moment.

Also, Theo Epstein, who did several good things in Chicago, is now back in the spotlight, having to build around the luxury tax while also finding players to fill the shoes, which only got bigger due to a longer tenure.

Furthermore, how will owner Tom Ricketts respond with this? As always in sports, you have to wait and see.

In the end, Kris Bryant will always be a Chicago Cubs legend, as will Anthony Rizzo and Javier Báez, but it’s time to let go of the past and look for the future. Hopefully, Cubs fans don’t wait another 108 years before winning it all again.