Strike 1: Three offseasons ago, the Colorado Rockies did Kris Bryant a solid and signed him to a $182 million contract that dwarfed what any other team was offering the former MVP.
Now it’s time for Bryant to do the Rockies a solid and simply retire.
It’s time for Kris Bryant to hang ‘em up.
The solution really is that simple.
Almost three seasons into a seven-year mega-deal, Bryant has yet to play what would amount to a single full 162-game season. This year, he missed most of spring training, and has had three separate stints on the injured list during the season – including being back on the IL at this very moment. He’s been on and off the injured list so often it could end up being named after him someday.
Bryant has been active for exactly 37 games this season.
And when he has been physically able to play this season? He’s mustered just a .218 batting average with two home runs and 15 rbi. His WAR is -0.7. The Rockies have pitchers on their roster that could match that paltry production at the plate.
The worst part is that when he’s healthy, manager Bud Black is more or less obligated to put him in the lineup. That means taking away a spot from one of the younger players like Jordan Beck, Michael Toglia, Hunter Goodman or Nolan Jones – guys who need those reps if this team is ever going to be a contender again.
Kris Bryant’s body has let him down. And at this point, it appears that it’s gone, and it aint comin’ back.
These never ending injuries should be a sign to the former four-time All-Star, 2015 Rookie of the Year and 2016 MVP. His body is telling him in no uncertain terms, “No Mas.” Bodies don’t lie.
Here’s the silver lining if you’re Bryant. With these long contracts, he can announce his retirement tomorrow and still collect the $27 million per year from the Rockies that he’s scheduled to get for the next four full seasons. The Rockies signed him to the guaranteed deal, and there’s no getting out of it.
But maybe the Rockies can get something else out of Bryant?
What if the former Cubs superstar did the right thing, retired as an active player and accepted a front office role for the next four years? Of course he’d still be overpaid, but at this point, he would probably have more value in that kind of role. Who knows what Bryant’s plans are after his playing days end, but if he wants to stay involved in baseball, he could certainly spend the next four years learning some front office ropes. And who knows, when Major League Baseball finally does land in Las Vegas – Bryant’s home town – he might have gathered enough experience to help run an MLB team. There are worse ways to spend your post-playing days.
The only thing that’s certain is that Bryant’s days as an impactful big league player are over. You just have to hope he sees that.
Sure, he could hang on. He’ll continue to battle these non-stop injuries and keep on struggling badly when he does play – because he’s never really ever going to be 100% again. Or he could step aside gracefully, leaving playing time for young guys that might help the franchise get back to respectability, stick around the team and the game in and advisory role of some sort, and help those with a future in the game. A future that most can only dream will ever measure up to his past.
