March 27--FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Commissioner Rob Manfred said agent Scott Boras should stay out the Cubs business when it comes to a decision on third baseman Kris Bryant.
Boras has been adamant that the Cubs owe it to their fans to start the season with Bryant on the roster, while the Cubs maintain the decision has not been made.
"Look, I don't think the Cubs decision on what's going to happen to Kris Bryant is really any of Mr. Boras' business," Manfred said Friday at Hammond Stadium. "I think the Cubs- I know the Cubs- will make decisions that are best for the long term competitiveness of the club. And focusing on whether a particular player has played, or is with a club on a day, or days, I don't think is a fair evaluation of what the club is up to.
"The club is in the best position, and the Cubs are in the best position, to decide what's going to make them the most competitive over the longest period of time."
The Cubs seem likely to start Bryant out at Triple-A Iowa for a couple weeks at least to ensure he'll be under their control for seven years instead of six. Bryant aside, would Manfred look into the service time issue, considering teams are getting around the rule by leaving deserving rookies in the minors?
"I don't agree with the 'getting around' piece of (the question)," he replied. "There is a rule out there, and like hundreds of rules in baseball, clubs manage the rules."
