Cubs Owner Gives Frustrating Update on Cody Bellinger Situation

Spring Training is officially underway, but Cody Bellinger still remains unsigned. The former NL MVP and two-time All-Star has been linked to the Chicago Cubs all winter after spending his 2023 season there, but both sides have yet to come to terms on a potential reunion.

The Cubs re-signing Bellinger has seemed inevitable for much of the winter, a matter of when rather than if.

Based on team owner Tom Ricketts' comments at Spring Training on Monday, however, the two sides may be farther apart in negotiations than originally thought.

According to Ricketts, Chicago and Bellinger's camp have had some conversations, but he said that they haven't progressed to serious negotiations. He also put the blame on Bellinger and his agent Scott Boras, saying there's not much the Cubs can do until they're ready to negotiate.

“There has been some discussions, but just it hasn’t become a negotiation yet, and until they’re ready to really negotiate, then there’s not much we can do.”

Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts on the Cody Bellinger situation ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/7gVSNLdfiS
— Ryan Herrera (@ryan_a_herrera) February 19, 2024

This is a very disappointing update for Cubs fans, as it suggests that the team isn't close to signing Bellinger at all.

Chicago reportedly isn't willing to meet Bellinger's lofty price tag, which could exceed $200 million, and doesn't seem willing to budge on that part.

Ricketts' comments are enormously frustrating.

It takes two sides to negotiate, and the team needs to be willing to come up on their price and meet somewhere in the middle if they expect Bellinger to come down.

The slugger is one of the best players in baseball when healthy and is only 28 years old, so he's not going to be cheap.

This also begs the question: what have the Cubs been doing for the last three months?

Just sitting around and waiting for his price to drop? That hardly seems like a good use of time, especially with Opening Day just around the corner.

If Chicago is serious about contending this year, they need to quit playing hardball and start making real progress with Bellinger before it's too late.