Cubs GM Jed Hoyer On Kris Bryant Service Time Grievance: 'We Feel We Are In The Right'
By Bruce Levine--
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CBS) -- The Chicago Cubs confirmed they had received notice of a grievance filed by the MLB Players Association on behalf of Kris Bryant last May. The information surfaced Monday as baseball's Winter Meetings began in Nashville.
Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer was unsure why the news surfaced here. The team first brought the eventual NL Rookie of the Year to the major leagues on April 17, and Bryant compiled 171 days of service time. A full year of service time is 172 days, meaning the Cubs will control Bryant through the 2021 season, rather than 2020.
The complaint filed states the Cubs manipulated the playing time in the minors to control an extra year before Bryant is eligible for free-agent status. The union contends that the Cubs violated the spirit of the basic agreement language in the collective bargaining agreement for players' service time.
The Cubs have a fine relationship with Bryant and his agent, Scott Boras, according to Hoyer.
"We have known about this since May," Hoyer said. "We have a great relationship Kris. We have a great relationship with Scott. They decided to file this grievance in May. Nothing has really changed since then. Obviously, we feel we are in the right. I am not going to comment on the case or open this back up. For us, this is seven months we have known about this. We are thrilled for Kris, who had a great year. This is something that will be handled with due process."
The present CBA agreement runs out in December 2016. Both the players and owners have said they will revisit the language of the service time issue in the coming months of talks between the two sides.
Bryant, 23, received all the first-place votes cast for NL Rookie of the Year in 2015. He set Cubs rookie records with 26 home runs and 99 RBIs.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
