PEORIA, Ariz. _ Kris Bryant was grateful that the Cubs compensated him Friday with the largest contract ever given to a player not yet eligible for salary arbitration.
"I felt like I earned it," Bryant said Monday of his $1.05 million contract for 2017. "I felt like just seeing where I fall with guys that were in my situation, I feel respected. It's nice. But all that stuff is good."
The Cubs avoided the acrimony other teams have experienced when renewing players' contracts regardless of their production. Teams can decide how much to pay players in that service class. The major-league minimum for 2017 is $535,000. Bryant earned $652,000 in 2016.
Bryant, 25, who won the 2016 National League Most Valuable Player Award, is excited to help the Cubs defend their World Series title.
"But it's time to perform on the field," Bryant said. "I thought I was excited last year, but I'm more excited for this year and to see how this team responds to winning a championship and how we're going to play that out."
The Cubs' projected Opening-Day payroll, in terms of base pay, will exceed $152 million.
