Kris Bryant on Cubs Trade Rumors: Want to Be Here, but I Don't Hold Those Cards

Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant said Saturday he's hopeful to remain with the organization despite being mentioned in trade rumors throughout the offseason.

"Of course, you want to be here, but I don't hold those cards," Bryant told reporters. "I just go out there and play third base...and left field and right field and center field and first base and do what I do."

The 2016 National League MVP also questioned the basis of the trade speculation since he can't become an unrestricted free agent until after the 2021 MLB season.

"'Let's get rid of him now because he doesn't want to be here in two years. He turned down this monster extension well north of $200 million,'" he said. "And I'm like, 'Well, where was that? I never saw that.'"

Bryant bounced back from an injury-plagued 2018 campaign with a strong 2019. He posted a .282/.382/.521 triple-slash line with 31 home runs in 147 games. His .903 OPS ranked 25th in baseball, and he rated fifth among third basemen in both wOBA (.379) and wRC+ (135), per FanGraphs.

Although the 28-year-old Las Vegas native is coming off a great year and an independent arbitrator ruled in the Cubs' favor after the All-Star slugger filed a grievance in an effort to enter free agency a year earlier, the rumors have persisted into Spring Training.

Jon Paul Morosi of MLB.com reported Tuesday the Cubs have remained active in "recent weeks" discussing a potential Bryant blockbuster deal with multiple clubs, including the Colorado Rockies, Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers and Washington Nationals.

For now, the University of San Diego product remains penciled in as a key cog in a high-upside Chicago lineup also featuring first baseman Anthony Rizzo, shortstop Javier Baez and outfielder Kyle Schwarber.

The Cubs open their Spring Training slate next Saturday against the Oakland Athletics and begin the regular season March 26 when they take on the Milwaukee Brewers.

Whether Bryant will be on their Opening Day lineup card remains a mystery.