Brandon Kintzler exercises player option for 2019

Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesBrandon Kintzler was obtained by the Cubs July 31 for minor leaguer Jhon Romero.

Let’s be charitable. His performance with the Cubs was less than optimal and worse than management had expected.

According to this, he’ll be back in 2019:

Cubs news: Not a surprise, reliever Brandon Kintzler will be exercising his $5 million player option for 2019 after the Cubs declined a $10 million team option on him for next season, per a source.

— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) October 31, 2018 The team has not made an official announcement of this, yet.

Now, it’s entirely possible that Kintzler could rebound and have a successful 2019. He posted 1.6 bWAR combined between the…