Forget about David Ross, forget about free agents because four years after Kris Bryant filed a grievance for service time manipulation against the Cubs, MLB will finally deal with the issue this week.
ESPN 1000 and NBC Sports Chicago's David Kaplan with the news and the outcome could change everything for the Cubs this offseason. If Bryant wins, he'll become a free agent after 2020.
As of now, Bryant has two more years of arbitration before becoming a free agent.
Here's the thing, there's no doubt the Cubs screwed with Bryant's service time in 2015, and they're not the only team to do it, but it's a loophole that's completely within the rules of the current CBA.
This is one of those situations where despite being right, Bryant is pretty much screwed because the Cubs didn't technically break a rule.
However, let's say Bryant does win the case. Not only would it affect the Cubs, but it would be a monumental outcome for players and the rest of the league. White Sox fans might be the biggest Bryant fans right now because if he wins that should mean Luis Robert and Nick Madrigal are on the opening day roster in 2020 without any concerns about service time issues.
For the Cubs, that means they only have Bryant for one more year under team control. Does that mean they'll be more aggressive in trade talks, or in extension talks with Bryant?
We'll find out soon enough and hey, it only took MLB four years to get around to a huge issue that affects a lot of their young stars.
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