Kris Bryant expectations

[justaChifan]

Kris Bryant has stated he doesn't feel it's necessarry to start the year in the minors.
The kid could be special. Why treat him like an ordinary business commodity?
Why mess with his psych and his agent?
A Jerome Walton comparison is a strech.

 

[SilenceS]

Would kris Bryant and boras do what is best for business for themselves? If so, then why wouldn't the Cubs do what's best for business for themselves?


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[justaChifan]

Would kris Bryant and boras do what is best for business for themselves? If so, then why wouldn't the Cubs do what's best for business for themselves?


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Unless the Cubs are already planning his departure come arbitration time, why do it to a possible "face of the franchise" ?

 

[justaChifan]

Time will tell, but my worst fear is the Cubs will keep their farm loaded by trading off their talent who are unwilling to sign a team friendly contract.
Tanking seasons will prove to have been good for the organization, not so much the fans.

 

[SilenceS]

Unless the Cubs are already planning his departure come arbitration time, why do it to a possible "face of the franchise" ?

He has a lot to prove to be that. About 7 years.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Unless the Cubs are already planning his departure come arbitration time, why do it to a possible "face of the franchise" ?

Arbitration time? No, that has nothing to do with this. If arbitration was a concern there would be talk of leaving Bryant down to his super 2 date. There isn't. The talk is about getting an extra year of service time by leaving him in AAA for 9 games. That means he'd be eligible to come up as early as 4/17 but with the MLBPA watching closely expect another 4 or 5 games after that. By doing that Bryant becomes a free agent after the 2021 season, not 2020. Despite some posters pointing out that Scott Boras clients don't always elect for free agency after their years of team control, the fact remains that most of them do. So 9 games for a year in his prime and we're even having a debate? It means more than a year of playing time as well. Say in June 2020 the Cubs realize that in 18 months they are bound to lose Bryant to the highest bidder. They'll still have value in him to make a trade. You have to look at Boras clients as if they WILL leave, bonus if they don't. Take a look at the White Sox who are starting the same noises about another Boras client, Carlos Rodon. I doubt you'll see him break camp either. I hope if Kris Bryant is who we think he'll be that he will be a Cub for life, a smart baseball organization needs to have one eye on that outcome and another on the real possibility that he won't be and how to maximize that financially. You asked why the Cubs would treat Bryant as an ordinary business commodity, the answer is they wouldn't because he isn't. He's an extraordinary business commodity.

 

[Parade_Rain]

Boras and his clients get what they deserve. You know going in that the chances are next to nil that the star will resign with the team. Keep the year of control.

 

[beckdawg]

Am i the only one who doesn't give a shit when Bryant hits the majors? Bryant will probably be a really good player. However, is presence in the majors this year likely means next to nothing toward the playoffs because they probably are still a player or two away from being true playoff contenders anyways. Additionally, arguably the next best player in ST other than Bryant has been Olt who happens to play the same position Bryant likely will when called up. I'd honestly rather see them give Olt a chance at every day at bats to see if he's turned his career around. If he has then you have another piece more than likely have someone to move probably for pitching.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Am i the only one who doesn't give a shit when Bryant hits the majors? Bryant will probably be a really good player. However, is presence in the majors this year likely means next to nothing toward the playoffs because they probably are still a player or two away from being true playoff contenders anyways. Additionally, arguably the next best player in ST other than Bryant has been Olt who happens to play the same position Bryant likely will when called up. I'd honestly rather see them give Olt a chance at every day at bats to see if he's turned his career around. If he has then you have another piece more than likely have someone to move probably for pitching.

I think they're a little closer than you do but you hit the nail on the head with Olt. What if he's great for those 9 or 10 games? Then you have more options.nwheres the downside here? If this team can get one more consistent pitcher in trade, maybe MOR or maybe TOR that would be a good to great rotation based on Arrieta and Hendricks' performance this spring. Maddon plays a ton of lineups during the year. For 9-10 games he'll be down one player. Big deal.

 

[CSF77]

I believe this year Olt will have a break out season. I've said I would not be sad if Bryant ended up in LF. Olt is the better defender at 3B and if both are hitting I do not see a down side here.

It comes down to Olt vs the LF platoon.

Olt: 5-18 2 HR 5 BB 7 SO
LF: 4-23 0 HR 7 BB 3 SO

In potential trade value Coghlan is a LH bat/4th OF. Olt could become a starting 3B in the league. 3B is a power vacuum right now and he has strong trade potential if he puts it together this year.

 

[Parade_Rain]

So then they have very few lefty bats in the lineup. That's another reason the combo of Olt/Bryant in the lineup is not as much of a fit as a different combo.

 

[CSF77]

So then they have very few lefty bats in the lineup. That's another reason the combo of Olt/Bryant in the lineup is not as much of a fit as a different combo.

I see it as Bryant/Russell long term. Same issue going on here. I'll bet they are banking on Schwarber to stick at catcher which gives a 2nd LH power bat.



Fowler
Castro
Rizzo
Bryant
Soler
Montero
Baez
Olt

I see that as a line up. SH/ R/L/R/R/L/R/R Olt gives Baez some protection and Soler gives Bryant protection.

Later year Olt traded Russell promoted to 3B

Russell sits on #8 until the end of the year and then they move him up in the order. At that point they have to look at CF also and if they want to retain Fowler or plug Almora. Which even pushes the line up more RH.

At the end of the day it is more about the most productive bats in the line up. Not plugging in a LH bat just to do so.

 

[Diehardfan]

I'm not seeing it with Olt. He's not particularly strong defensively and has just way too many holes in his swing. My guess is that it will be an easy maneuver after about 10 games of calling up Bryant and sending down Olt....with the only thing giving him a shot to stay is being backup to Rizzo. Baez is another guy who scares me. You gotta love his incredible power and the way the ball jumps off his bat but the problem is that the ball isn't hitting his bat enough....hopefully that will come but if it doesn't I look for LaStella maybe being plugged in at second.

 

[TL1961]

Olt is the best defensive 3rd basemen we have out of Olt/Bryant/LaStella, but he has a long, long way to go to prove he's an everyday 3rd baseman.

But Alcantara/Baez/Russell are all possibilities at some point depending on who wins 2nd base.

I think Bryant in LF is the end result, and I think, given the number of candidates for 3rd base, that the organization knows this as well.

Again, if Olt can win the 3rd base job for more than just the time Bryant is in AAA, that would be gravy. That would be a big boost in terms of lineup and assets going forward. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. He hasn't proven that yet. Let's hope, though.

 

[Parade_Rain]

Alcantara will play some third eventually, imho.

 

[Zvbxrpl]

I'm not seeing it with Olt.

Nobody is.

 

[SilenceS]

Olt is what he is and don't let spring training fool ya


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[beckdawg]

Olt is what he is and don't let spring training fool ya


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He wouldn't be the first prospect to struggle and ultimately turn his career around in the 26-27 year range. I'm not suggesting it should be expected to happen but the fact is he's played well in spring training. And it's not even like he'd need to play good for every game going forward. If he plays really well for 2-3 months and the trade dead line approaches he's going to be an interesting player. I'm sure not every team will believe in the new him but all it takes is one team to buy into him hard. Let's not forget he was a top 50 prospect a few years back. That's not to say again that his spring guarantees anything just that clearly people thought there was talent there. Additonally it's not like there's a lot of 20-25 hr hitting 3B laying around the majors these days especially one capable of playing decent defense.

 

[chibears55]

He wouldn't be the first prospect to struggle and ultimately turn his career around in the 26-27 year range. I'm not suggesting it should be expected to happen but the fact is he's played well in spring training. And it's not even like he'd need to play good for every game going forward. If he plays really well for 2-3 months and the trade dead line approaches he's going to be an interesting player. I'm sure not every team will believe in the new him but all it takes is one team to buy into him hard. Let's not forget he was a top 50 prospect a few years back. That's not to say again that his spring guarantees anything just that clearly people thought there was talent there. Additonally it's not like there's a lot of 20-25 hr hitting 3B laying around the majors these days especially one capable of playing decent defense.

Wasn't last year his first season back from eye injury?

I think Olt can become a serviceable player and hit .240/.250 with 25+ HRs...

I could see the cubs starting him in favorable situations to gain value and try and use him as trade bait at deadline. ..

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Nobody is.

Maddon is. He spoke at length about how good Olt's ABs have been and how well he is seeing the plate. If the guy could keep hi K rate under 25% and 30 HR he's valuable player, either for the Cubs or someone else. I just care about the value of the asset. Kid a was a blue chip prospect in 2012.