March 28--FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Theo Epstein got some support from Major League Baseball in the Kris Bryant saga on Friday while MLB's investigation in tampering charges against the Cubs in the Joe Maddon hiring enters its final stage.
Commissioner Rob Manfred said agent Scott Boras should stay out the Cubs business when it comes to a decision on Bryant, the phenom who likely will start the season at Triple-A Iowa for more development despite ripping up Cactus League pitching with a major-league leading nine spring home runs and a .406 average.
Boras has been adamant in several interviews that the Cubs owe it to their fans to start the season with Bryant on the roster. But if the Cubs return Bryant to Iowa for at least a couple of weeks, they will have him under their control for seven years instead of six.
"Look, I don't think the Cubs' decision with respect of what's going to happen with Kris Bryant is really any of Mr. Boras' business," Manfred said Friday before a Twins-Pirates game at Hammond Stadium.
"I think the Cubs -- I know the Cubs -- will make decisions that are best for the long term competitiveness of that 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."
Manfred, making the rounds of spring training camps, also will decide this week whether the Cubs were guilty of tampering with Maddon when they signed him to a five-year, $25 million contract after he opted out of his contract with the Rays last October. MLB sources said the decision will be announced before the season opens April 5 at Wrigley Field.
Epstein said in November he welcomed any investigation and was confident the Cubs would be exonerated. The investigation has been ongoing for nearly five months.
As for Bryant, Epstein reiterated Friday in Mesa, Ariz., that no decision has been made, and whether or not Bryant makes the opening roster or goes to Iowa will have nothing to do with the "business" side of the game.
"We're going to make a good baseball decision with what we think is best for his development, best for the team, the organization and other players affected," Epstein said. "We haven't made the decision yet. I do think I look to things that have worked in the past for me."
Epstein said he never has brought a rookie onto an opening day roster, other than a couple of veteran Japanese pitchers and some Rule 5 picks, including Hector Rondon in 2013. Starting them out in the minors, Epstein said, is the "best way ... to get them going in the flow of the season."
Bryant wants to be the exception.
"I look at it as, 'Why not me?'" Bryant said. "I think I'm the type of guy who can do it. I've made it a point of mine to show them I can."
Bryant's success has received national attention, putting a spotlight on the Cubs' decision. Boras has been fueling the fire with suggestions the Cubs need to keep Bryant to prove they're trying to win.
"People can talk all they want about ulterior motives, but we're making a professional baseball player development judgment -- something we've done over a lot of years," Epstein said.
The service time rule is part of the collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the players association. Manfred was asked if it's an issue, that teams may be getting around the rule by leaving deserving rookies in the minors.
"I don't agree with the 'getting around' piece of (the question)," Manfred replied. "There is a rule out there, and like hundreds of rules in baseball, clubs manage their rules."
Tribune reporter Mark Gonzales contributed.
