Super agent Scott Boras didn’t get to hold court this year at the Winter Meetings, as is his annual tradition, so instead he apparently set up a Zoom with the digitally-assembled media tonight.
Among his comments on the Cubs and Cubs players, Boras of course spoke about one of his most high-profile clients on the team:
Boras suggested they believe there’s a strong chance the Cubs hold onto Kris Bryant and defended his Covid shortened 2020 performance, pointing out he’s posted big numbers — a .900 plus OPS — whenever he’s gotten 550 at-bats.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 16, 2020
Scott Boras said that Kris Bryant will have his chance to hit the market place after 2021.Boras said he has always had great open dialogue with the Cubs.He would not confirm or deny $ amounts being offered to Bryant in the past.
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) December 16, 2020
Boras on Bryant’s future past 2021: “That question probably will be very clearly addressed at the end of ‘21, because we’re going to know a lot more about what Jed (Hoyer) wants to do, and also about the continuance of Kris Bryant’s excellence in a baseball uniform.”
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) December 16, 2020
If Bryant doesn’t have an extension before the end of next season (and there’s no reason to believe, at this point, that he will), then I don’t think anyone would expect him to ultimately re-sign with the Cubs at that point. So much will depend on how this coming season plays out (if he’s with the Cubs), but usually when a guy of Bryant’s stature actually reaches free agency, he winds up signing with another club.
It sounds like Boras knows he won’t be marketing any of his highest priced free agents to the Cubs, who are just trying to get water out of the boat(?) right now before figuring out what they’ll do with their roster and the frosting on the cake(?):
More Scott Boras metaphors on the Cubs’ transition period: “Sometimes, you get water in your boat. The first thing is to figure out how that water got in there. How you maneuver is to make sure you get the water out of it before you add people into the boat.”
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) December 16, 2020
Scott Boras: “There are some real central decisions, obviously, that have to be made about pitching and (the Cubs) going forward. But I think the good news is when you have that many good players, it gives you an opportunity to really focus on the frosting rather than the cake.”
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) December 16, 2020
As for competing in 2021, Boras expects it for the Cubs, because ‘Star Wars’:
Scott Boras said Cubs still have “stars” (yes, including Bryant) and suggests Cubs under Hoyer should be able to compete in ’21:
“I guess when you have star wars, who best to handle it than the Jedi. So we’ll have to see.”— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) December 15, 2020
That pun, sir, was worse than ‘The Rise of Skywalker.’
Also, Boras talked about center fielder Jackie Bradley, Jr., who was today connected to the Cubs by rumor:
Boras on Jackie Bradley Jr.: “JBJ is like PBJ — he’s sweet and smooth and he spreads it all over and covers it well.”
— Tyler Kepner (@TylerKepner) December 15, 2020
You might be cringing about another strained simile, but I am cringing at the thought of anyone putting smooth peanut butter on their PB&J. It’s chunky all the way, and I’m offended by any other suggestion.
