Report: Cubs' Kris Bryant Files Grievance Over Service Time
(CBS) Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, the NL Rookie of the Year in 2015, has filed a grievance against his team for alleged manipulation of service time, according to a report from Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports.
Bryant has yet to meet with an arbitration panel to discuss his situation, according to Passan. The grievance claims that the Cubs didn't act in good faith in bringing Bryant to the majors.
Bryant made his major league debut on April 17 and 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.
Bryant led all in spring training with nine home runs, but the Cubs opted to send him to Triple-A Iowa, citing his need for development as a fielder. When Mike Olt suffered a wrist injury and was placed on the disabled list, Bryant came to the Cubs and hit .275 with 26 home runs, a rookie record for the franchise.
It's possible, though perhaps not likely, that the grievances reach an arbitration panel.
The Cubs made their first playoff appearance since 2008, in part because of Bryant's strong rookie season.
