Cody Bellinger is another example of Cubs President Jed Hoyer’s brilliance.
Either Hoyer will pass and avoid being tied to an expensive, long-term contract like the other teams have been doing in the last two offseasons, or he will help the team compete better by landing Bellinger to a deal he loves. In either case, Hoyer gives himself several avenues for achievement. The President of Baseball Operations for the Cubs is aware that Boras will eventually be forced to give up and agree to a short-term contract. Bellinger would prefer to play for the Cubs than to start over somewhere else, so Hoyer will have the advantage when other teams return and express interest in a shorter contract.
Luckily, Bob Nightengale says he doesn’t think any other teams would be serious about signing the Comeback Player of the Year. At the pricing point that Boras has established, nobody ought to be. The Cubs front office is forced to wait as Boras, like any agent, is holding out to secure the best possible deal for his client, even though he knows it will involve the Chicago Cubs.
It’s a great point that, given Bellinger’s lack of other offers, it would be quite foolish for the Cubs to outbid themselves. It’s possible that he will end up in Chicago once the price eventually drops. Should a team manage to slenderly outbid the Cubs, They already would have completed it.
Naturally, given how long this procedure has taken, patience is a virtue in and of itself. When we want to yell, “Come on, Jed, sign him already!” it’s crucial to keep that in mind. Boras is the one who is taking his time to reach a contract. One thing remains true despite the national media’s constant rumors and opinion-driven issues to draw readers in: Bellinger’s re-signing with the Cubs is still the team that most likely to happen.
What about Tom Ricketts’ remarks on the salary of the Chicago Cubs?
For the time being, Ricketts’ remarks have nothing to do with landing Bellinger this winter, even though they left a foul taste in our mouths. Indeed, it’s unsettling to consider that a major league team such as the Cubs will consistently employ the luxury tax’s first rung as a soft cap.
The Cubs still have over $30 million in salary, which is more than enough to sign Bellinger and possibly another reliever like Ryne Stanek, according to a Bleacher Nation article by Brett Taylor.
Hoyer isn’t endangering this club in the long run, any way. If given the option to sign a free agent to a lousy contract or to make no deal at all, it’s always wise to decline and look for alternative methods to bolster your starting lineup. The Cubs haven’t made their last offseason splash yet, but they have money to spend before the season starts.