Rizzo, KB homer amid trade rumors in loss

CHICAGO -- Spotting Kris Bryant on the field pregame has been a rare sight these days. The Cubs' star has done most of his daily work indoors, while avoiding the barrage of trade questions waiting outside.

On Tuesday afternoon, Bryant emerged for a few minutes to get some ground balls in ahead of the Cubs' 7-4 loss to the Reds. As manager David Ross held court in the third-base dugout, Bryant intentionally walked in front of the cameras, leaning close to the lens before shooting a smile at reporters and heading off.

"I definitely think it's the first time this group's gone through this," Ross said over on the bench. "I definitely think it's created adversity for us and things that we've had to work through."

As the clock keeps ticking to Friday’s Deadline, Bryant and his long-time teammate Anthony Rizzo -- both caught in trade rumors at the moment -- launched home runs against Cincinnati.

Bryant went deep in the ninth, forcing the Reds to summon Amir Garrett from the bullpen. Since Bryant broke into the Majors in '15, the Cubs have claimed three division crowns, made the playoffs five times and ended that 108-year World Series drought. Each year, the franchise was looking for impact additions at the Deadline. This selling business is unfamiliar territory.

“It's just been different,” Bryant said via Zoom after the loss. “We've always been pretty much buyers or whatever the term you want to use at the Deadline. And that's always been exciting. This is all part of the journey. It's part of the game, part of the cycle of baseball.”

Rizzo, who homered Tuesday for the third straight game after a report earlier in the day had the Red Sox showing interest in him, is one of the few players remaining from the pre-2015 rebuild. Starter Kyle Hendricks and Javier Báez debuted in '14. Willson Contreras arrived in '16.

The last nine seasons of Ross' playing career includes six postseasons -- two ending with World Series rings. That included, famously, the '16 triumph with the Cubs, with a group of young, star teammates who now call him manager. His first season in that seat for Chicago in ‘20 ended with a National League Central flag.

Needless to say, the direction this season has taken for the Cubs has been a foreign experience for plenty of players and personnel here.

"I think as a fan and a competitor," Ross said, "you're excited about the Trade Deadline and all the movement, but you're unhappy that it's moving the opposite way for you, right?

"I think that's where I really am. You want it to be us looking for the piece that we need, or pieces. That's the position you want to put your team in for the front office to be looking on the other side of that.

"We didn't do that. And so, that's part of it."

Tuesday's defeat to the second-place Reds -- one powered by a pair of homers by Cubs nemesis Joey Votto off Adbert Alzolay -- gave Chicago an 8-8 record dating back to its season-altering 11-game losing streak. That lengthy skid began the front office's process of planning for next year and beyond.

As Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said back on July 8: “Life comes at you fast.”

During the All-Star break, the Cubs traded outfielder Joc Pederson to the Braves. On Monday night, lefty Andrew Chafin was shipped to the A's for a pair of prospects. Closer Craig Kimbrel is also drawing considerable interest, per multiple reports. Setup man Ryan Tepera and starter Zach Davies could also be on the move.

The Chafin trade represented Ross' first time experiencing receiving word of a transaction in-game, and being forced not to use a player.

"It's a little distracting," Ross said. "But you understand you've still got to manage the bullpen and do the things you can to compete for that day. And then you try to do the best you can with what you've got.

"It's one of those -- things change. It's new for me."

It is new for Bryant, who is poised for free agency and was linked to the Rays as a trade target by ESPN's Jeff Passan early Tuesday. MLB Network’s Jon Paul Morosi also reported Tuesday that the Giants have also shown interest in the Cubs' star.

In the past, Bryant admitted that the external noise got in the way of his focus. These days, he has learned to take the rumors and reports in stride, even finding moments to have a little fun with Rizzo behind the scenes.

“[We’re] having as good a time with it as you can,” Bryant said. “You can't control it. Any time a rumor pops up, I say, I'm going here and Rizz is going there. And I was like, 'Hey, maybe we'll still be playing against each other.' That's what you've got to do. You can't just sit there and sulk or whatever it may be.

“You can't just think about it non-stop, because then you go crazy and it takes away from what you do on the field.”

At this point, Bryant is awaiting word one way or another just like everyone else. He said he has not felt the need to check in with Hoyer or ask his agent, Scott Boras, for the latest updates.

“I've got a baseball game tomorrow that I've got to play in,” Bryant said. “And I'd rather focus on that. At times, it's hard, but I'm just doing my best to get here, do my routine, do what I've always done and go out and try to win for the Chicago Cubs.”