Kris Bryant is awesome and we were always right to love him

[Guancous]

Bryant feeding Schwarber like a gremlin is adorable.

 

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/sports/nbcsports/cubs-kris-bryant-left-kyle-schwarber-candy-in-outfield-in-game/2512493/

[Backtobanks]

Shockingly it looks like the script is starting to flip:

 

https://www.mlb.com/news/most-indispensable-player-for-every-mlb-team-in-2021

 

CUBS: Kris Bryant

 

Bryant might seem like an obvious answer, but his play to this point this season makes him, without question, the most indispensable player on Chicago’s roster right now. When a rash of injuries hit the Cubs in late April and early May, Bryant moved off third base and willingly accepted a super utility role. In his case, consider it a “superstar utility” role. To help manager David Ross maneuver through various health setbacks, Bryant has started multiple games at all three outfield positions, as well as first base. He has not manned third since April 20. And Bryant has done this while continuing to hit at an MVP-caliber level again, helping pull the Cubs’ offense out of its early season funk.

 

No big surprise because this is Bryant when he's healthy. It will be interesting to see what the Cubs do at the deadline because it looks like they will be right about where everyone figured they would be - in contention in a crowded NL Central.

[UMFan83]

Shockingly it looks like the script is starting to flip:

 

https://www.mlb.com/news/most-indispensable-player-for-every-mlb-team-in-2021

 

CUBS: Kris Bryant

 

Bryant might seem like an obvious answer, but his play to this point this season makes him, without question, the most indispensable player on Chicago’s roster right now. When a rash of injuries hit the Cubs in late April and early May, Bryant moved off third base and willingly accepted a super utility role. In his case, consider it a “superstar utility” role. To help manager David Ross maneuver through various health setbacks, Bryant has started multiple games at all three outfield positions, as well as first base. He has not manned third since April 20. And Bryant has done this while continuing to hit at an MVP-caliber level again, helping pull the Cubs’ offense out of its early season funk.

 

No big surprise because this is Bryant when he's healthy. It will be interesting to see what the Cubs do at the deadline because it looks like they will be right about where everyone figured they would be - in contention in a crowded NL Central.

 

I do wonder if it just makes sense to keep all 3 of them and let them go into FA. Make an honest effort to resign them but if they walk, the possibility of getting a 2nd and 5th round pick for each of them isn't terrible compared to the return they might get at the deadline. I just don't want Bryant to go to the Padres who, as a revenue sharing team, would only net the Cubs their 3rd best pick instead of 2nd and 5th.

[Backtobanks]

Shockingly it looks like the script is starting to flip:

 

https://www.mlb.com/news/most-indispensable-player-for-every-mlb-team-in-2021

 

 

No big surprise because this is Bryant when he's healthy. It will be interesting to see what the Cubs do at the deadline because it looks like they will be right about where everyone figured they would be - in contention in a crowded NL Central.

 

I do wonder if it just makes sense to keep all 3 of them and let them go into FA. Make an honest effort to resign them but if they walk, the possibility of getting a 2nd and 5th round pick for each of them isn't terrible compared to the return they might get at the deadline. I just don't want Bryant to go to the Padres who, as a revenue sharing team, would only net the Cubs their 3rd best pick instead of 2nd and 5th.

 

Keep all 3, trade Kimbrel (saving app. $8 million) for a solid package and then see what happens with negotiations after the season.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

Trade them all if you get legit offers, then sign them back in the offseason. It worked for the Yankees.

[Bertz]

I just don't think it's going to be ambiguous. The schedule for the next 6 weeks is ROUGH. Nearly all of the tough out of division games occur prior to July 1st.

Either the team sinks or swims during this time, and IMO I've yet to hear a compelling argument for holding onto KB (or most of the others) if the team's not at or near the top of the division in July.

[UMFan83]

I just don't think it's going to be ambiguous. The schedule for the next 6 weeks is ROUGH. Nearly all of the tough out of division games occur prior to July 1st.

Either the team sinks or swims during this time, and IMO I've yet to hear a compelling argument for holding onto KB (or most of the others) if the team's not at or near the top of the division in July.

 

Oh of course, if the team is like 4 games under .500 and 6 GB in July than you do whatever you can to get the best return. If the contracts lapse and the Cubs make a legit effort to resign, i think its unlikely the sign Bryant, fairly likely they resign Rizzo and 50/50 on Javy.

[Backtobanks]

I just don't think it's going to be ambiguous. The schedule for the next 6 weeks is ROUGH. Nearly all of the tough out of division games occur prior to July 1st.

Either the team sinks or swims during this time, and IMO I've yet to hear a compelling argument for holding onto KB (or most of the others) if the team's not at or near the top of the division in July.

 

Obviously it's hard to predict what's going to happen in the next 6 weeks, but I don't expect anything definitive happening with the Cubs. The Cubs can certainly compete with most of those teams. Playing .500ish keeps them squarely in contention and doesn't scream "buy" or "sell".

[squally1313]

Selling these caliber of players in such a trash division, it’s going to have to look a whole lot worse than 4 under and 6 back in July. That’s literally a record that can turn in a week. I’m thinking buried is double digits under .500 and less that 3rd place in the division. The Brewers just got Adames for a song/couple bullpen arms, there’s no franchise saving trade coming as sellers so there shouldn’t be a quick trigger

Right, and double digits under .500 in the next 6 weeks very likely includes a KB injury or serious slump, which changes the outlook on what you get for a short term rental anyways (vs the comp pick).

[CubinNY]

The Cubs are going to keep them all and try to add a starting pitcher or two close to the deadline. Then they will all walk in free agency (maybe not Rizzo). The Cubs know the market will likely be flooded this year.

[UMFan83]

KB's back in Chicago and walking around Wrigleyville :cry:

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CTnbZr4rfVb/?utm_medium=twitter

[Ding Dong Johnson]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[Soul]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

 

Yeah, saw that one yesterday. Somehow had more impact for me because he did it well after he left.

[UMFan83]

Warning: This is Barstool so I can totally understand not wanting to watch because of that but they did a pretty in-depth interview with KB while he was here over the weekend, talking about the final days as a Cub and what happened when the pieces started getting traded, etc. It's interesting at least, he has a good attitude about everything and still speaks highly about the city and franchise. Starts around 42:15.