Bryce Harper thinks Kris Bryant belongs on Cubs’ opening day roster
As we’ve noted several different times throughout the offseason and into spring training, the Chicago Cubs have an interesting decision to make in regards to power-hitting prospect Kris Bryant and whether to place him on the opening day roster or send him back to the minors.
It shouldn’t be much of a decision at all.
Bryant is a major league ready talent who would not only compete for Rookie of the Year, but would likely challenge for an All-Star selection. He looks that locked in right now from an offensive standpoint. However, as The Stew’s Chris Cwik pointed out Friday, the Cubs will consider holding him back a few weeks in order to gain another season of contractual control over his services.
With that in mind though, Bryant is doing everything he can this spring to change the Cubs’ minds or make them look extra cheap should they hold him back. He continued beating down the doors on Saturday, coming off the bench to hit his spring leading fifth and sixth home runs in front of his hometown fans in Las Vegas.
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A performance made even more impressive by the fact Bryant was scratched from the original lineup with shoulder fatigue. And a performance noteworthy enough to prompt a tweet from Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper — who like Bryant is a native of Las Vegas and client of Scott Boras — to make known that Bryant deserves to be in the Cubs’ lineup come April 5.
You won’t get an argument from us. The power Bryant consistently displays is otherworldly, or as teammate Jake Arrieta put it.
Any system that could even tempt a major league team to keep Kris Bryant’s talent in the minor leagues need not be evaluated, but immediately blown up.
Of course, Harper has had his share of contract issues stemming from the language in his initial deal and his service time with the Nationals. In fact, Harper and Boras filed a grievance that nearly went to a hearing earlier this winter. The two sides eventually put the dispute behind them, agreeing to a two-year, $7.5 million deal on Dec. 15.
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For now, these are the rules players and agents have to live with. They’re pretty much there to be taken advantage by all 30 teams until the current CBA runs out following the 2016 season. Every team will continue doing it, too, regardless of what Scott Boras or Bryce Harper say, or what we see with our eyes.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
