Bryant wants to stay with Cubs, but not sure the feeling is mutual

MESA, Ariz. - If Saturday was Kris Bryant's final time reporting to the Cubs' training camp and meeting with the media, he left a lasting impression.

In a 36-minute Q&A session that seemed to fly as fast as one of his 138 career home runs, Bryant delivered impressive honesty, insight and openness before unpacking his belongings in the spring clubhouse and heading out for some batting practice.

The 2015 National League Rookie of the Year and 2016 MVP and World Series champion has been the subject of trade talks throughout the off-season, not that he was following along on social media.

"Twitter, it's been completely off my phone since two years ago," Bryant said. "It's the worst thing that ever happened to this world. Friends send me screenshots so I've seen stuff second hand, but I really try to avoid it."

Bryant is eligible for free agency at the end of the 2021 season, so the Cubs could trade him, solve their luxury tax issue and add needed young talent all in one fell swoop.

Last year, it was reported Bryant has already turned down a contract extension offer from the Cubs, which he shot down in glorious fashion.

"The biggest thing with the trade rumors that has disappointed me is the fact that I feel like with some people, not everybody, the main reasoning behind it is, 'Let's get rid of him now because he doesn't want to be here in two years. He turned down this monster (contract) extension well north of $200 million,'" Bryant said. "And I'm like, 'Where is that? I never saw that.' I mean, these rumors and these sources and people just saying things ... the only thing that matters is what comes from my mouth, and never once have I said I never wanted to play here.

"I've always said I respected everybody in this organization, everybody in the city, the fans. We have it so good here and of course I would love to play here."

Bryant is making $18.6 million this season and he should be around $25 million in 2021, his final year of arbitration.

There is no doubt the three-time all-star wants to stay with the Cubs for the long haul, but can they afford it?

"I don't know," Bryant said. "I haven't looked at the math of wherever the payroll situation is, but I know we just got this new (TV) network for a lot of money and the Cubs are one of the most profitable teams out there and one of the most desirable teams. People always want to go to Wrigley Field to watch a game, they want to go to Wrigleyville and see all the bars and everything that's built up.

"The Ricketts family has done a really good job in terms of just changing everything about this franchise and there is certainly money out there. It's just a matter of if they want to. I don't know, I really don't."

Considering all he's accomplished with the Cubs after being the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 draft, the 28-year-old Bryant would like to know where he stands with the club.

"I guess I would like to be in the loop a little bit," Bryant said. "Obviously, they don't have to keep me in the loop by any means. But I feel like I've earned a little respect here, just how I go about my business and just who I am as a player and a person, to kind of sit down and have talks like that.

"Who knows? It might happen. It would be nice, but I'm going with the flow."

Bryant was extremely bothered by being sent to Class AAA Iowa out of spring training in 2015 even though he was an obvious talent.

Like other teams around the majors, the Cubs exploited the system, called Bryant up a few weeks into the season and gained an extra year of service time.

Bryant recently found out he lost his grievance, not that he's mad with the Cubs.

"The team doesn't want to go through it," Bryant said. "Theo (Epstein) doesn't want to have to make decisions like that and cause disagreements between players and the front office. The only person's opinion that matters here is mine and right here in front of the microphone, I'm telling you guys there are no hard feelings whatsoever.

"I completely respect this organization and everything they've done for me and my family. They've given me an opportunity to play the game that I love every single day. I just saw this as a process that is eventually going to help the players in the next round of negotiating and I was going to be that guy to have the courage to do it."

To survive the turbulent off-season, Bryant looked forward to becoming a father for the first time and learned how to play the guitar. Now, he's back in his comfort zone on the baseball field.

"By going through things like this, it really kind of opens your mind and your heart and you realize why you play this game," Bryant said. "If I can put all this crazy stuff, the trade talk, the grievance stuff and all this other stuff aside and just go out there and play and have fun and not worry about the stupid stuff, that's where I want to be. And that's where we all should be."