Boras: Economic crisis won't impact Bryant in free agency

Agent Scott Boras doesn't believe that a star player like his client Kris Bryant will have a problem landing a lucrative contract in free agency next offseason despite the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

"For the players who are the great players - because there's always only a few great players - I don't think it's going to have anywhere near the impact," Boras said, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago. "Those great players are somebody you would sign for 10 years, and you can defer the cost. You just backload the contracts. You can do things with long-term contracts; you could wait for better times but still get the player for today.

"By the way, if I don't sign that player, and I wait to sign that same star player when I do have the money in 2023, he's going to cost me more."

Boras added that he expects the Chicago Cubs third baseman to be extremely coveted in free agency due to his unique skill set.

"He's an established guy, a very proven player," Boras said of Bryant. "And there aren't many players like him. Just plays so many positions; he's a power hitter; .900-OPS players are hard to find. And you always have the (added) benefit of less wear and tear (from a shortened season) going forward."

Bryant, 28, is coming off a 2019 campaign that saw him hit 31 home runs and post a .903 OPS across 147 games for the Cubs. The three-time All-Star was named National League MVP in 2016 while leading Chicago to a World Series title.