Cubs' Hoyer: Reports of Bryant trade talks with Mets were false
Another Kris Bryant trade rumor has been shot down.
Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer poured cold water on any thoughts about dealing the star third baseman - or anyone else on the team - anytime soon.
"Right now, we're not currently engaged in any trade talks. We haven't been for a while now," Hoyer told reporters, according to Chris Emma of 670 The Score.
"I don't expect it is probably the simplest way to say it."
The comments came less than a week after reports surfaced stating the Cubs and New York Mets had resumed talks about a Bryant trade.
Jed Hoyer just now: “Right now we’re not engaged in any trade talk and we haven’t been for a bit.”
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) February 16, 2021
“So that Mets stuff was inaccurate?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
Suggests team should look similar to now come opener.
Rumors about Bryant's possible departure from Chicago are far from new. However, the speculation picked up steam this winter after the club began to make moves towards rebuilding, including trading star pitcher Yu Darvish and non-tendering outfielder Kyle Schwarber.
It's also not the first time an executive has debunked a Bryant trade rumor. After reports said the Washington Nationals were in talks to acquire Bryant, their general manager stated he hadn't had serious conversations with the Cubs about the infielder in two years.
Bryant has been seen as one of the likeliest pieces for Chicago to move if the organization continues to purge payroll. The 29-year-old will earn $19.5 million in 2021, his final season before free agency. Bryant's coming off a dismal 2020 campaign, but he's also just one year removed from being an All-Star.
Hoyer added he'll talk to Bryant, as well as fellow star infielders Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez, about their possible extensions during spring training, according to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune.