In a recent interview on Thursday, Kris Bryant shared quotes where he seemingly regrets signing with the Colorado Rockies. It was a surprisingly candid interview from the star third baseman.

“I guess I didn’t do as much research into the prospects as I could,” said Bryant.

Since arriving in Colorado, Bryant hasn’t lived up to the 7-year $182 million contract. A .259/.335/.404 slash line isn’t terrible, but it’s also not good enough. The biggest issue for Bryant though has been staying on the field. He’s only played 122 games in two full seasons for the Rockies. Back, foot, heel, and finger injuries have withheld him from being the star player he is.

Let’s not forget how good Kris Bryant used to be too. A rookie of the year and MVP in his first two seasons, Bryant dominated for the Cubs from 2015-21. With an OPS+ of 132 over those years, Bryant was one of the most feared hitters in baseball. His willingness to spray the ball all over the field combined with his power made him a tough out. Combine that with his defensive versatility, and Bryant was the exact player any baseball fan would want on their team.

Even when he was traded to the Giants for the second half of 2021, he was still solid great in the playoffs. Bryant has always been solid in the postseason, and he has a ring to show for it. He also has four all-star appearances. This is a player that is supposed to be in the prime of his career right now.

What’s confusing about the quotes that Bryant dropped the other day though is that you don’t really need to do “research” to know the Rockies aren’t the most successful franchise. In 31 seasons, Colorado has been 2260-2598, otherwise known as below .500. They have only had 9 winning years and have made the playoffs a whopping 5 times during those seasons. The Boston Red Sox swept the World Series from them in 2007 in their only appearance ever.

If Kris Bryant regrets signing with the Rockies, then it’s his own doing. Although, we can’t be too harsh on him. Bryant was a free agent during the 2021 offseason going into 2022, which was when the MLB labor lockout was occurring. He actually didn’t sign his contract until after players were reporting to Spring Training.

“It’s like, ‘Oh shoot, I need to get there,'” Bryant went on to say. “It was a completely different situation for a lot of free agents at the time.”

Combine his sense of urgency to sign a deal with the idea that Bryant wanted to sign his first ever multi-year deal, and it makes sense that he has ended up in a less-than-ideal situation.

Rockies fans have been questioning the team’s direction since the signing too. A team that alienated Nolan Arenado by not supplying him with playoff-caliber rosters, Colorado has been cutting corners for years. While they always come in the middle of the pack in spending, it’s evident that not as much money goes towards scouting and free agency.

When the Rockies do develop prospects, they are rarely pitchers. For a team that plays in the most hitter-friendly park in the MLB, a lack of pitching development is a problem. And when they sign free agents, they are often weird like the Kris Bryant deal.

Bryant is currently trying to make it clear since the story’s release that he meant to emphasize that he was in a hurry to sign with a team. Bryant sees how the quotes can be mistaken for regrets of signing with the Rockies. He has already spoken to his manager and GM about it, and he also intends to address the team about it today.

Click Here for more MLB Content

Subscribe to Fantom’s Twitch

Subscribe to Fantom’s YouTube

Follow Fantom Sports on Twitter!