Cubs agree to record deal with Kris Bryant |
The Chicago Cubs have signed their standout third baseman
Kris Bryant to a one-year contract worth $10.85 million on Friday according to multiple reports. The Northsiders avoided arbitration with their stud third baseman and it is a record contract for a first-year arbitration eligible player.
The former record was set by the Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard for $10 million in 2008 after he also won NL Rookie of the Year and MVP honors. Bryant's salary was only $1,050,000 last season so this is nearly almost ten times as much money for Bryant this. However, he is married now so he could use the extra money. The Cubs would eventually like to work out a long-term contract with Bryant but his super agent Scott Boras will more than likely advise Bryant not to sign anything prematurely. In 2017, Bryant batted .295 with 29 homers, 73 RBI, and .409 on-base percentage. He was fifth in the league with 111 runs, third in walks (95), and seventh in OPS (.946). For his short MLB career, he has batted .288 with 94 homers and 274 RBIs including winning the MVP in 2016 and Rookie of the Year in 2015. He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs with the second overall pick in the first round of the 2013 MLB draft. Five of the Cubs' six players have been signed today with Kris Bryant ($10.85 million), Kyle Hendricks ($4.175 million), Justin Wilson ($4.25 million), Addison Russell ($3.2 million), and Tommy La Stella ($950,000). The only player left to sign is veteran reliever Justin Grimm.
