Theo Epstein was in the broadcast booth with color analyst and former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling. In their discussion, Schilling badgered Epstein about the Kris Bryant situation. Schilling said there was no doubt that Bryant was one of the best 25 players in the Cubs organization, so he should be on the opening day roster. Clearly, this is the player-agent position in this service time debate.
Epstein responded that when he was in Boston, he had many "top 25 player" prospects but he never added them to the opening day roster. It was his view it was better to call them up during the season rather than the pressure of opening day.
Give Schilling credit for not accepting that explanation. He continued to press Epstein on why the Cubs are not giving Bryant an opening day start. "Is is all about business?" Schilling asked. Epstein tried to deflect that statement by saying Bryant needed more minor league time for "his development." Schilling was not buying that line either. As we have discussed, the Cubs by keeping Bryant down in the minors to below 172 days of service time can add a year of control on his contract rights. Therefore, based on the objective evidence, Bryant's assignment to Iowa at the end of camp is purely a business move on the part of the Cubs.
Because if Bryant is called up in two weeks, how much more "development" did he get in Iowa?
And this is contrary to Joe Maddon's position on Javy Baez. Baez has had a terrible spring at the plate. His long swing opens him up to missing balls outside the zone, and hampers his ability to adjust to pitch speeds. Maddon and the new batting coach have been trying to work with Baez about shortening his set up and swing to make more consistent contact. So far, those instructions have not yielded any change.
Under normal circumstances, Baez would have been a candidate to start the season in the minors to work on developing his new swing. But Maddon likes Baez's defense so much, he wants to keep him on the roster and allow his major league coaching staff continue to work with Baez on his hitting.
So if Bryant is mashing it, and can play LF without mucking it up too badly, there is no logical reason for Bryant to be sent to Iowa and Baez to stay with the big club.
