Bryant sent to minors/called up

[gunnarthor]

http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/12587428/kris-bryant-javier-baez-addison-russell-sent-minors-chicago-cubs

 

Cubs sent the #2 prospect in baseball to AAA. (They also sent Baez and Russell down as well).  Bryant was considered by most to be good enough to start now (and the Cubs traded away their third baseman this offseason) but if they keep him in the minors for 10 days they get another year of control.  So, they did that.  His agent, Scott Boras, has said the Cubs lack integrity and owe it to the fans to let him start the year on the ML roster.   

[biggentleben]

The Cubs traded away Valbuena, but they retained Mike Olt, who has hit quite well this spring and reportedly shown a ton of growth defensively.

 

This is the system.  Get over it Boras.

[nytwinsfan]

This isn't news. It happens every year with countless prospects, (e.g., last year with Polanco), including many of the best. It would be surprising if it didn't happen with Bryant.

[biggentleben]

Look at the Braves right now.  They'd still have another year of control on Jason Heyward if they would have held him in the minors for two weeks instead of starting him in the majors on opening day.  His agent wouldn't work out an extension, and now he's been traded with one year left of team control.  Having that extra year of team control would have gotten the Braves into a bigger revenue stream with their new stadium and likely a new TV deal.  The cost is substantial for teams, especially with guys who have Boras as an agent due to his lack of desire to negotiate extensions before reaching free agency.

[Hrbowski]

The Cubs fans have waited for 107 years, it isn't like they can't wait for 2 more weeks.

[Willihammer]

Honestly, I kinda hope the Cubs miss a playoff spot by one game.

[tobi0040]

He needs to work on some things for 12 days.  The Cubs were thinking he would be in the .450 range with 10 HR, not .425 with 9 HR.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

This isn't news. It happens every year with countless prospects, (e.g., last year with Polanco), including many of the best. It would be surprising if it didn't happen with Bryant.

Actually, this specific timing doesn't happen THAT often.  Most prospects are delayed midseason for a bit to miss the Super-2 arb threshold.   I think it's very rare to hold off on an obvious call up one season (arguably Bryant 2014) and then keep them down for just 10 days the next season (likely Bryant 2015).

 

Evan Longoria 2008 is the other example that springs to mind.

[biggentleben]

 

Actually, this specific timing doesn't happen THAT often.  Most prospects are delayed midseason for a bit to miss the Super-2 arb threshold.   I think it's very rare to hold off on an obvious call up one season (arguably Bryant 2014) and then keep them down for just 10 days the next season (likely Bryant 2015).

 

Evan Longoria 2008 is the other example that springs to mind.

 

George Springer last season was held for a couple weeks.

[dxpavelka]

 

Honestly, I kinda hope the Cubs miss a playoff spot by one game.

I always hope that.

 

[dxpavelka]

If the players union doesn't like it they can negoitate a different deal in the next CBA.  Of course that likely means giving up something else that they won't want to give up. 

[big dog]

Yeah, this is like the international signings- the union negotiates things that work out to the advantage of various groups under various scenarios.  Players don't come up as soon as they might without Super 2, but some of them probably wouldn't be up until the following year if there were no Super 2 rule.  Beats the crap out of the reserve clause.

 

 I don't feel too badly for the very small number of players held down a few extra weeks so that the club only has to pay them a few million dollars for one more year before they hit free agency.  The vast majority of ballplayers have much bigger financial problems than that.

 

If you want to complain about something that holds down salaries, having a draft is a good place to start.  And frankly, anything that keeps a little bit of money out of Scott Boras' pocket is ok with me.  Kris Bryant picked his agent, he can take the negatives as well as the positives.

[biggentleben]

I honestly do believe with the Cubs and Theo that they know Boras, and they know that with some of their other "superstar prospects", they'll be able to work extensions as they blossom into major leaguers.  With Bryant, they won't, and it has to do with his agent.  I don't have any issue with Boras getting the best for his clients - that's his job, but then don't come crying when your own tactics are costing your players somewhat in the front end.

[biggentleben]

Also, for those who feel terribly bad about Kris Bryant, he was paid $6.7M by the Cubs before he ever stepped onto a baseball field, and if he would have ended up flaming out in AA, you wouldn't hear the Cubs wanting that money back...

[h2oface]

The business of baseball has always sucked. Segregation, free agency, lockouts, etc. The owners are pigs. Someday, maybe the fans can actually own the teams as a fan cooperative. I doubt it though.  

 

I like baseball. All baseball. I hope the Cubs make it to the playoffs this year. I hope they win it soon.

 

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

George Springer last season was held for a couple weeks.

True, thanks.

[Seth Stohs]

The question about Aaron Hicks making the Opening Day roster a couple of years ago wasn't about whether or not he was ready... it was whether it would be more wise for them to give him a month in AAA so that they would get another year before free agency. 

[jimmer]

 

The business of baseball has always sucked. Segregation, free agency, lockouts, etc. The owners are pigs. Someday, maybe the fans can actually own the teams as a fan cooperative. I doubt it though.  

 

I like baseball. All baseball. I hope the Cubs make it to the playoffs this year. I hope they win it soon.

I'm with you on the Cubs.  I hope they make it to the playoffs this year and I think they will.

[TheLeviathan]

This is just a case of everyone doing what is in their own best interest.  Nothing wrong with that per se.

[jokin]

 

The question about Aaron Hicks making the Opening Day roster a couple of years ago wasn't about whether or not he was ready... 

 

Not to many of us.

[Willihammer]

Also, for those who feel terribly bad about Kris Bryant, he was paid $6.7M by the Cubs before he ever stepped onto a baseball field, and if he would have ended up flaming out in AA, you wouldn't hear the Cubs wanting that money back...

I don't feel for Bryant, I feel for Cubs fans!

[nicksaviking]

I'm for getting the young guys to the majors, but if it's Buxton and Sano I delay them two weeks to save a year.

 

Plus, I love seeing Boras get dirt kicked in his face, no one wants to see the richest kid in the room get everything he wants all the time. Yeah, I have issues, I know.

 

Seems like a pretty easy fix for the Players Union, that is if they gave a damn about the guys who only dream about being in the union one day.

[formerly33]

 

The Cubs fans have waited for 107 years, it isn't like they can't wait for 2 more weeks.

Oh, that's not nice at all. If you want to say something about the Cubs, or any team for that matter, you have to look at the whole picture and make sure you're being fair. After all, it's not Bryant they've been waiting for. It's a WS Championship (or should I make it a little more reasonable and say NL Championship?). But good point. I laughed.

[formerly33]

 

Plus, I love seeing Boras get dirt kicked in his face, no one wants to see the richest kid in the room get everything he wants all the time. Yeah, I have issues, I know.

Let's have issues together.

[Pius Jefferson]

 

I don't feel for Bryant, I feel for Cubs fans!

 

 

They'll survive the two or three weeks Bryant is in Iowa. 

 

Honestly, I'd be mad at my team if they gave up a year of service time for twelve games at the start of the season.

[The Wise One]

Spring training stats are meaningless unless the fan needs to use them to make their point. Defensive skills matter until they do not. 

Bryant will not hit for a season like he is this spring. An OPS of .750-800 is not out of the question. The question is how much will his defense cost? 

[Otto von Ballpark]

The question about Aaron Hicks making the Opening Day roster a couple of years ago wasn't about whether or not he was ready... it was whether it would be more wise for them to give him a month in AAA so that they would get another year before free agency.

No, not really. I am sure some mentioned it here, but it was pretty easily debunked. Hicks was not the level of prospect where this sort of thing ultimately matters. Meyer probably isn't anymore either.

 

Buxton and Sano, perhaps. Although I think if a guy is forecast to be legitimately ready in spring, he should have been up to end the previous season, barring unusual circumstances. Rendering these kind of delays mostly moot (think Trout 2011-2012).

[Otto von Ballpark]

Seems like a pretty easy fix for the Players Union.

Not really -- that's the problem. Any service time theshold you set will have teams keeping players just below it.

 

About the only thing that would work might be to tie FA/arb to draft age instead.

[USAFChief]

Bryant held out after being drafted until 2 days before the signing deadline (reportedly for the same money originally offered, BTW.)

 

Maybe he would have debuted last fall if he signed the day after the draft.

 

So maybe he and Boras should consider their own role when they complain about the system.

[uberfan]

Cubs v Twins world series=my dream ws. This year or next!