Is Bellinger signs a three-year agreement with the Cubs ! (by Sources)
Free agent Cody Bellinger’s potential return to the Cubs following a breakout season has been the talk of the town this spring. They (the Chicago Cubs’ players) have been vocal about wanting the centre fielder back.
At the beginning of spring training, Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner made a joke about how they could mention his name. In my ideal world, he would be here. What a fantastic idea!
The Cubs and Bellinger have reached a three-year, $80 million contract with the option to opt out after the first two seasons, according to a source who spoke with MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. It will take a medical before the deal can be officially announced, and the Cubs have not yet done so. On Sunday, ESPN’s Jeff Passan broke the news first.
Given the persistence of his free agency and the pursuit of other options by other suitors, the return of Bellinger to the Cubs always seemed like an inevitable conclusion. Cubs BP Jed Hoyer has a history of standing firm on perceived worth, so the issue has always been if Scott Boras and Bellinger would be open to a shorter-term deal.
According to Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts, “I think Jed does a really nice job” (earlier this spring). Having a lot of young players going up through the minors means you don’t want to have too many long-term contracts, and he obviously realises that every dollar counts. Plus, in all of his endeavors, he has skillfully managed to strike a balance between the here and now and what lies ahead.
For the Cubs, who are shorthanded, Bellinger’s defensive versatility allows him to fill in at first base and centre field. According to MLB Pipeline, centre fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is the Cubs’ top prospect (ranked 16th on the Top 100 list). However, during the summer, the team traded for Michael Busch (ranked 51st) to provide them with a first-base alternative.
If Bellinger does not opt out after the second season, he is poised to earn $20 million in ’26, $30 million in ’25, and $30 million in 2024, according to Feinsand.
Following the four-year, $53 million contracts inked by pitcher Shota Imanaga and the one-year, $9 million deal struck by Héctor Neris to bolster the pitching staff, the Cubs would have completed their offseason with the signing of Bellinger. By keeping Bellinger, the Cubs have maintained the nucleus of their offence that led them to third place in the National League in runs scored (819) last season. They also added Busch in a deal with the Dodgers to solve the first base problem.
Even with Bellinger on the team, Busch has a shot at starting at first base this spring. While Bellinger is sure to start at centre field on Opening Day, the Cubs also have Mike Tauchman as an experienced backup and two prospects, Crow-Armstrong and Alexander Canario, competing for spots on the team.
Crow-Armstrong had previously advocated for Bellinger’s return earlier this spring, even though she was aware it may affect his road to the majors.
I adore Cody. “That’s my friend, end of story,” Crow-Armstrong stated. He was great to me, not just as a buddy but also as a teammate and a clubhouse guy. Everyone seems to be talking about him. That person is well-liked by all. It is universally acknowledged. What matters most in this game, though, is your performance on the pitch. Indeed, that is the case. It would be fantastic if Cody returned. That improves our odds of winning.
Dansby Swanson, a shortstop, spoke out during a January panel at the Cubs Convention, telling the audience, “Before we get to next year, we’ve got to re-sign Belli.” The audience cheered.
Bellinger had a spectacular first season, earning first-year honours in 2017 while playing for the Dodgers. He went on to win the NL MVP in 2019 and the World Series in 2020. He won a gold glove and was named to two All-Star teams during that time. The Dodgers declined to tender Bellinger prior to the 2023 season because of his 66 OPS+, which was 34% below the MLB offensive average, and the numerous injuries he suffered during the previous two seasons.
Bellinger was given an opportunity to reassert himself as one of the game’s finest performers when the Cubs signed him to a one-year, $17.5 million contract. Last season, he delivered as promised, slashing.307/.356/.525 for the Cubs while also collecting 20 stolen bases, 26 home runs, 29 doubles, and 97 RBIs. He had a.984 OPS against lefties, was named the National League’s Player of the Month for July (with an average of.400), and led the MLB with 75 RBIs from July 1st to the end of the season.
Last season, Bellinger joined NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr., American League MVP Shohei Ohtani, and Freddie Freeman on the limited list of four Major League players who hit at least.300 with 25 or more home runs and 20 or more steals.
“The guys that played with Belli last year obviously want him here again,” declared Cubs starter Justin Steele at the beginning of camp. He was an incredible asset to our group as a buddy, comrade, and clubhouse presence. His performance on the pitch was, without a doubt, exceptional. We would love to play with him again; that much is common knowledge among all of us who played with him last year.
