The Chicago Cubs are prepared to move on based on the most recent news on Cody Bellinger.
Not that the Cubs wouldn’t welcome Bellinger back, but Jed Hoyer made it clear that the cushion contract the team signed the 2019 National League MVP to before the season would not be up for grabs following a 2023 campaign in which the seasoned outfielder won the National League Comeback Player of the Year award.
With outfielders lining their prospect rankings, the Cubs were unwilling to commit to Bellinger’s long-term contract, which seemed to be worth over $200 million. Bellinger’s market has not developed as Scott Boras may have expected. Boras was under the impression that he would have to modify his initial request, which led to rumors that the Cubs are in control.
The Cubs will not back down from their offer for Bellinger, that much is certain. According to Jesse Rogers of ESPN, the Cubs and Bellinger are still at odds, and it appears the team has set a boundary.
“Sources familiar with the matter claim that the Cubs and Bellinger’s camp have been at a standstill for the entire offseason, and nothing has changed. While this doesn’t rule out a deal, it does indicate that the Cubs are prepared to go into 2024 without the 2019 MVP and that a big deal is highly unlikely to change their minds.
Fans of the Cubs should get ready for a Cubs roster without Bellinger in 2024. Even if the Cubs are thought to be Bellinger’s most likely suitor, it is evident that the team’s original off-season plan did not center on Bellinger’s return. The Cubs have no reason to change their strategy in their talks with Boras because that was always their original goal.