MLB Insider Says It's Unlikely Cubs Re-Sign Bellinger as Free Agent
Friday night's 4-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers was the final nail in the coffin for the Chicago Cubs, and for the third-straight year, David Ross' club missed the playoffs. To add insult to injury, hours after the game one Cubs insider shared that he heard from a trusted source that it is unlikely that Chicago will retain Cody Bellinger, when he becomes a free agent this winter.
David Kaplan spent 25 years hosting the Cubs' pregame and postgame shows. He now hosts his own Cubs' postgame show on YouTube, called "REKAP". On Friday night's edition of REKAP, Kaplan shared the latest information he gathered from a source, pertaining to Bellinger's future.
"I keep hearing and I heard from someone tonight, they're probably not going to get Bellinger re-signed," Kaplan said. "The person I talked to tonight said, 'We've already got a center fielder: Pete Crow-Armstrong.' He still hasn't gotten his first career hit, but I like him. He's a good prospect. I said, 'Who's your first baseman?' 'It's a first baseman, it doesn't matter."
Bellinger signed a one-year contract with the Cubs last December. Facing a crossroads at the trade deadline, Chicago opted not to trade Bellinger, instead making a push for a playoff berth and coming up short. The Cubs can extend a qualifying offer to Bellinger, and if he were to leave via free agency, the club would receive a compensatory pick.
In 2023, Bellinger slashed .307/.356/.881 with 26 home runs, 97 RBI and 20 stolen bases over 130 games. The 2019 National League MVP enjoyed a resurgent 2023, and it appears he will sign a lucrative contract when he tests the waters of free agency this winter.
The Cubs appear to have high hopes for rookie Pete Crow-Armstrong, who received a promotion to the club's Major League roster earlier this month. Crow-Armstrong, as Kaplan mentioned, has yet to register his first big league hit, having receiving just 14 total at bats in 12 games. Crow-Armstrong is the no. 12 prospect in all of baseball, per MLB.com.
Even with Crow-Armstrong patrolling center for the foreseeable future, the Cubs have a need for a first baseman, which Bellinger could fill, if he were to be retained. Entering Saturday, Bellinger had played 83 games in center field and 57 at first base.
The Cubs called up first base prospect Matt Mervis earlier in the season, but the 25 year-old never quite found his footing, slashing just .167/.242/.531 before he was sent back down.
Some MLB experts and insiders have predicted that Bellinger will be in the market for a contract north of $200 or $300 million this winter. Kaplan notes that the Cubs may pass on Bellinger's high price tag and instead hope to develop Mervis and Crow-Armstrong at first base and in center field.
