Could Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo go to a new team next year as a package deal?
It’s not likely, but stranger things have happened.
Bryant joked about it before Monday’s game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park when speaking with a group of Chicago reporters about the possibility of an exodus from the Chicago Cubs after the 2021 season.
“It could be, and maybe that’s why we’re having more fun,” Bryant said. “It might be the last time I play with Anthony Rizzo. Who knows, maybe we’re a package deal.
“We’ve said it plenty of times to each other. I think that’s the way a lot of guys are really embracing (the season) and enjoying it. It could be the last go-around. A lot of us certainly hope it’s not, but that’s the way the game goes sometimes. There’s something to be said about really enjoying it and it potentially being our last year together.”
The idea of Bryzzo Inc. relocating would be a gut punch for the ages for Cubs fans, and Bryant reiterated he was just messing around with Rizzo.
“We’ve just been joking in the cage,” he said. “Me being his hitting coach and saying: ‘I can’t go anywhere without you. I need you.’ Just the good friendship that we have.
“We’ve got our pitch. It’s like the ‘Step Brothers’ (movie). We’ve got to go in and get a new job.”
Rizzo told the Tribune on Friday that the Ricketts family has the resources to sign all of the Big Three— himself, Bryant and Javier Báez—if it wants to. Bryant wholeheartedly agreed.
“I don’t know their financial situation,” he said. “But the Chicago Cubs are doing well. So theoretically, yes, you can sign whoever you want.
“It’s just a matter of if they want to continue with us or go a different way. They’ve got some money.”
Two months in, Bryant is enjoying an MVP-caliber season, hitting .309 entering Monday and ranking fifth in the majors with a .976 OPS after falling to a career-low .206 average in 2020 with a .644 OPS. He told a Barstool podcast in January he was tired of seeing his name in trade rumors, saying: “Man is this even fun anymore? Why did I start playing this game?’ Because it was fun.”
The story blew up in the media, which drew a rare rebuke from Bryant on Twitter.
“Must be a slow news day to take something genuine and turn it into something out of context,” he wrote. “Do better @espn #clickbait”
Bryant laughed about it Monday and said this season is almost the exact opposite of how he felt in the winter.
“This is such a great atmosphere in the dugout,” he said. “Night and day from a lot of teams we’ve had here. I think we’re taking the expectations out of things and having guys like (Patrick) Wisdom come up and Nick Martini was awesome. Some of these new pitchers are just country and don’t know right from left. It’s really a good mix of guys.
“That interview was great because you talk about things that are real in this game and life in general, and then it comes out that this year is a 180, really, in terms of the atmosphere and how much fun guys are having, and it’s contagious. Everybody is having a really good time.”
Bryant began playing more games in the outfield this spring so manager David Ross could give more playing time at third base to Matt Duffy. Bryant has made only 14 starts at third, where he’s listed on the All-Star ballot.
Now it looks like Wisdom could be the third baseman the rest of the year.
“Who knows?” Bryant said. “I’ve been having a lot of fun with Wizzy. He’s a character. Really, really fun to be around. … I enjoy playing the outfield. No problem with it. He might be the third baseman for a long time. Who knows, the way he’s playing?”
Bryant reportedly was on the trading block again last offseason but got little traction after his injuries and inconsistency at the plate in 2020. The Cubs opted to hang on to him entering the final year of his contract with the thought they could deal him at the trade deadline if they’re out of contention and he hasn’t signed an extension.
Bryant said it didn’t bother him that few teams seemed interested.
“I don’t really have a big ego in terms of that,” he said. “If anything, I appreciate being able to prove people wrong and being able to show my skill set on the field and not really having to say anything about it. I’ve always been that way.
“Obviously the struggles suck, but it’s part of the game and you go through it. I feel like I’ve always taken pride in not getting too high or too low and looking into stuff like that and getting way too low. Now it seems like a complete 178 (degree turnaround) instead of a 180.
“Things seem to be going a little differently. But I think that’s a testament to me and my character and realizing what this game is about and realizing what I’m about and that I’m a real good baseball player. It usually shows up every game.”
It’s unlikely the Cubs would deal Bryant by July 31 if they’re winning, and he said he hasn’t thought about the possibility, calling it “wasted energy.” Feeling the love at Wrigley Field has helped him put that behind him.
“It’s cool to hear when I’m running out to the outfield at Wrigley that all the fans want me,” he said. “It definitely makes me feel much better. I appreciate them showing up. It’s been the best part of the season so far, seeing them back at the stadium, and going to 100% soon is going to be pretty cool.
“They’ve made the season pretty cool so far, and hopefully we can make it special for them too.”
Sign up for alerts on your phone, desktop and inbox to stay current with the latest news
Sign up for our sports newsletter, delivered daily each morning
