Denver Columnist Suggests That Rockies Could Move on From Former MVP

After being out of the lineup again on Monday night with injury, Kris Bryant is drawing the ire of some in the Denver media.

Apr 7, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies designated hitter Kris Bryant (23) in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports / Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

After sitting out Monday's game with discomfort, Colorado Rockies' player and former MVP Kris Bryant is drawing the ire of some in the Denver media.

Per Troy Renck of the Denver Post:

Injuries stink. But Bryant is aging in dog years. I just don’t see how it makes sense to keep him on roster after this season.

Injuries stink. But Bryant is aging in dog years. I just don’t see how it makes sense to keep him on roster after this season. https://t.co/fA4XAtSWiF

— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) June 3, 2024

Signed to a seven-year deal worth $182 million before the 2022 season, Bryant has played in just 24 games this season after playing in only 42 and 80 in each of the last two years. Not only has he not been available, he hasn't been productive, either. With the Rockies, Bryant is hitting .247 with just 17 homers over these three partial seasons.

This comes after he made four All-Star teams with the Cubs and won the 2015 Rookie of the Year and 2016 MVP Awards.

After this season, Bryant will have approximately four years and $104 million left. What are the options the Rockies have?

1) They could trade him, and eat significant portions of the money: A team might take a flier on Bryant's resume, but only if Colorado were to take on most of the salary. It seems unlikely the small-market Rockies would pay someone upwards of $85-90 million to not play for them.

2) They could trade him, and attach a good prospect to the deal: Back in 2020, the Boston Red Sox wanted out from David Price's contract. In order to get the Los Angeles Dodgers to take half the contract, they also traded Mookie Betts. Could Colorado give up a solid prospect in order to get some team to "buy" a bigger portion of Bryant's contract?

3) They could DFA him and eat all but the league minimum.

4) They could keep him and hope it gets better.

The Rockies are currently 21-38 and own the second-worst record in the National League.

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