Yes, it's a record-setting deal for Kris Bryant, but the Chicago Cubs are more than glad to give the reigning National League MVP a big pay raise for 2017. Plus, it's still a huge bargain for the defending World Series champions.
Bryant and the Cubs have agreed to terms on his salary, which will be $1.05 million in 2017.
That is now the highest pre-arbitration salary in MLB history. Mike Trout had the previous record with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2014, when he made $1 million. Trout had back-to-back runner-up finishes as American League MVP and a ROY award on his resume when he got his $1 million before arbitration. Bryant went ROY and MVP in consecutive seasons for the Cubs and has lived up to the hype like no other player in Chicago sports history. Bryant has pretty much set every single record in franchise history for a player his age. The Cubs also agreed to terms on more players, including Javier Baez, Addison Russell and Kyle Hendricks.
The Cubs have been great with their young stars, giving them raises when other teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates haven't done the same.
