(670 The Score) As he initially addressed star third baseman Kris Bryant's future with the Cubs on Friday, president of baseball operations Theo Epstein for a bit wandered into the past tense. Then he caught himself.
"He was drafted as a Cub," Epstein said. "He's had a remarkable career here, won a World Series here. And is a Cub."
Perhaps the moment was symbolic of Bryant's uncertain future in Chicago. As the Cubs look to refresh a roster that underachieved in 2019 and set themselves up for a better long-term future, Bryant's name continues to land in trade speculation. If they're going to revamp the roster with quality young talent, Bryant is the player who would garner the best return.
Epstein was answering a question on the McNeil & Parkins Show that inquired what he'd tell those who believe it's in Bryant's best interest to part ways with the Cubs because of the service-time grievance he filed against them and because of the organization failing to meet expectations in recent years.
Epstein responded that he didn't view the situation in such a manner and didn't think that Bryant did either.
"He's been extraordinarily successful here and loves playing here and we love having him," Epstein said. "I don't want to speak for Kris, but my sense is he doesn't look at it that way and we don't look at it that way."
Epstein then expanded about the Bryant trade speculation amid a quiet Cubs offseason.
"Rumors are rumors until they're not," Epstein said. "There has been so much outside speculation about this for a guy who has always been a Cub and has still been a Cub and has been really productive as a Cub. So I don't think that's the right way to look it. I think it's, 'Hey, let's enjoy the great career that he's had and hope that he's in a Cubs uniform for a long time.' If the day comes that he's not, it was probably for a reason, one side or the other. We'll continue to treat him and everybody with respect."
Bryant, 28, hit .282 with 31 homers, 77 RBIs and a .903 OPS in 147 games last season. He and the Cubs recently avoided arbitration by agreeing on an $18.6-million salary figure for 2020. He's currently under team control through 2021, though Bryant and his camp are awaiting the ruling of a grievance that contends the Cubs manipulated his service time back in 2015. If Bryant won, he'd earn the right to be a free agent after 2020, but the expectation is that he'll lose the case.
Whatever may lie ahead, Epstein and the Cubs still have a strong relationship with Bryant.
"There's nothing any of our players have done that – whether it's filing a grievance or not signing a long-term deal – that would make you look at them any differently," Epstein said. "I respect the business side of the game. They should be able to assert their rights. I don't think there's anything we've done – whether it's being open-minded about trades or offering or not offering at certain moments in time long-term deals – that will affect our relationship from their perspective either. We have a firm foundation built up. There are certain values and a certain culture in the organization where we try to put the players first and try to treat them with a ton of respect. The business side of the game, the offseason can often lead to some awkward moments, uncertainty. That cuts both ways – players having to hear their names out there in trade rumors, and the longer-term for us is uncertain just not knowing if certain guys are going to be here or not be here, whether they're going to re-sign or not re-sign. It cuts both ways. Those things just fall off once you get in the clubhouse and just focus on baseball."
