Kris Bryant has admitted that he isn't having as much fun playing baseball as he used to.

Bryant, 29, was asked on a Barstool podcast if there was joy for him on the field.

"At times, no," the Chicago Cubs third baseman responded. "It really got to me sometimes. The stuff I was hearing. The first trade rumors [in 2018] that started to pop up really got to me. I find myself [thinking], 'Man, is this even fun anymore? Why did I start playing this game?' Because it was fun.

"There's a lot of other stuff involved. You make a ton of money and fame and all this. You have to get yourself back to why I started playing."

Bryant is set to become a free agent after next season after settling on a contract with the Cubs for $19.5 million for 2021.