SF Giants: Building an extension for slugger Kris Bryant

The SF Giants made one of the biggest moves at this year’s MLB trade deadline when they acquired slugger Kris Bryant from the Chicago Cubs for prospects Alexander Canario and Caleb Kilian. The 2016 National League Most Valuable Player award winner has quickly found a home in the Giants lineup. He has already delivered a multi-home run game and a walk-off hit. In Bryant’s 16 games since he was acquired, he has blasted five doubles, three home runs, and recorded a .295/.348/.525 triple-slash while playing all over the field.

Less than a month into his Giants tenure, fans are already clamoring for him to stay in San Francisco after this season. However, his contract leaves that up in the air. Bryant is slated to become a free agent this season, which should prompt a significant bidding war. The Giants have yet to sign anyone to a massive contract since Farhan Zaidi was hired as the president of baseball operations. Could that change in the next couple of months?

Can the SF Giants extend Kris Bryant beyond 2021?

My colleague Kyle Foster thinks there are reasons to believe Bryant will be leaving San Francisco at the end of the season. He particularly points to agent Scott Boras, who is well known for leveraging massive free-agent deals for his clients. Still, I’m more inclined to think a reunion is possible. In fact, Bryant himself has hinted that he wants to make the Bay Area a more permanent residence.

In a press conference with reporters earlier this week, Bryant was directly asked if Boras would prevent him from signing an extension with the Giants before reaching free agency. His response, “I run the show,” reiterated that while Boras may have certain tendencies, he remains ultimately at the will of his clients. If Bryant wants to stay in San Francisco, and the early indications are he does, negotiating an extension should be straightforward. The only question left at that point is how much it would cost?