Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant avoided arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $18.6 million deal.
The Cubs also reached one-year deals with shortstop Javier Baez, left fielder Kyle Schwarber($7.01 million), and center fielder Albert Almora Jr.($1.575 million)
Third baseman Kris Bryant and the Chicago Cubs have settled on a one-year, $18.6 million deal, a source familiar with the agreement tells ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 10, 2020
Bryant was drafted by the Cubs in 2013. He was the National League Rookie of the Year in 2015. In 2016 he was the National League MVP. Last year, he hit .282 with 31 home runs and 77 RBIs. Bryant was also eighth in the National League in runs scored with 108. He ranked 16th in the majors with a on-base percentage of .382.
Bryant has a service time grievance filed against the Cubs. It was filed in October by the Major League Baseball Players Association on Bryant’s behalf. Sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan that the grievance is expected to be resolved within the next two weeks.
Bryant claims that he should have started the 2015 season with the Cubs, which would allow him to become a free agent after the 2020 season. Instead, the Cubs sent him to the minors after spring training and called him up 10 days later because of an injury.
If Bryant wins the grievance, then he would become a free agent after this season. If he loses, then he will have one more arbitration-eligible year and would be a free agent after the 2021 season.
There have been trade rumors circulating around Bryant this offseason. The Cubs are trying to stay under the luxury tax threshold, which is why these trade rumors arose.
Multiple teams entered the offseason in need of a third baseman. Teams that are still in the market for one could try to get Bryant. However, his asking price will be deep and the Cubs will try to address its rotation or try to get an upgrade in center field as part of a trade with Bryant.
So where could Bryant be traded to? The Los Angeles Dodgers, Washington Nationals, Atlanta Braves, Minnesota Twins, and Texas Rangers are expected to be among the teams that go after Bryant, per Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. Bryant will most likely be traded at some point.
