Kris Bryant Opens The Door For Contract Extension With Cubs

Nolan Arenado agreed to a contract extension with the Rockies on Tuesday and the immediate reaction for Cubs fans was what it meant for Kris Bryant. This came a day after Sahadev Sharma wrote about Bryant's feelings toward teams manipulating service time for star prospects, something that happened to Bryant in 2015. Sharma also went on 670 The Score and described his conversation with Bryant. Despite the harsh and valid criticisms of teams exploiting the system, Sharma said it wasn't like Bryant had a grudge against the Cubs, or wouldn't sign with them to spite the Cubs. Yet, Sharma made one thing clear in his opinion. One, Bryant isn't giving the Cubs a hometown discount and two, Bryant isn't signing an extension. Bryant as we all know is represented by Scott Boras. Other than Stephen Strasburg there aren't many examples of players repped by Boras that sign contract extensions before reaching free agency. Plus, Strasburg was a special circumstance, as he dealt with some arm issues, so he didn't risk a big injury and signed an extension with the Nationals. However, despite the perception that Bryant wouldn't agree to an extension with the Cubs, he apparently opened the door on the possibility Tuesday. Cubs beat writer Jesse Rogers joined the Carmen And Jurko show on ESPN 1000, and said Bryant was extremely open to signing an extension. Bryant becomes a free agent after the 2021 season. Cubs Insider transcribed Rogers comments from Tuesday.

“He said, ‘Absolutely,’” Rogers said of Bryant’s response to a question about accepting an offer like Arenado’s. “Now, he said it like, ‘That’s a great deal, how could anybody turn it down?’ Yet we know that if this was Theo and Scott, ‘Absolutely’ may not be the answer. “He was absolutely impressed by 255 (million dollars) and eight (years). I think he understands if he doesn’t say yes to that, he sounds selfish. But I don’t know if it was presented in front of him if he actually would, or if Scott Boras would.”

Again, a Scott Boras client signing a contract extension is extremely rare, but Bryant made sure to point out that he's in charge. Boras works for him.

“Kris made a point of saying to me, and he said it exactly like this: ‘I want to reiterate that I’m the client, I’m the guy in charge,'” Rogers explained. “Now I’m paraphrasing: ‘I’m the guy that Scott has to listen to.'”

“I think Bryant would be willing to play ball if Scott will listen to him, and vice versa,” Rogers concluded.

After 2018, David Kaplan said the Cubs approached Bryant some time in the previous year about an extension. Kaplan said it was for more than $200 million, but no other details emerged. Bryant's shoulder injury in 2018 obviously affected his arbitration salary, as his numbers dipped, but if Bryant really is willing to work something out with the Cubs, then that'll be great for all parties involved.

However, as of now, Bryant hasn't heard from the Cubs about a new deal this offseason.

Arenado's new money on the extension is $234 million over seven years after getting $26 million to avoid arbitration for the 2019 season. Bryant still has two more years of arbitration after 2019 before he can become a free agent. Maybe the Cubs are just waiting to see a full season of Bryant after his shoulder injury to go back to the table and try to work out an extension. If Bryant goes back to the player he was before the injury in 2018, he'll make more than $20 million in arbitration in 2020. A contract extension for Bryant would definitely be more than Arenado's. No matter what, the Cubs will have to set a new record to sign Bryant long term.