These Four Teams are Expected to Target Chicago Cubs Slugger Bellinger in Free Agency
Chicago Cubs outfielder and first baseman Cody Bellinger is enjoying a resurgent season that should make him a great sum of money when he enters free agency this winter.
Bellinger struggled through his final three seasons in Los Angeles, but has rediscovered himself in Chicago. Entering Sunday, the 2019 National League MVP is slashing .313/.359/.897 through 118 games.
The Cubs signed Bellinger to a prove-it, one-year contract last December, with a mutual option for 2024. Given how well he has performed, it seems to be a foregone conclusion that Bellinger will opt out and test the waters of free agency this winter. But what will the market look like for the two-time NL All-Star? One MLB insider has a guess.
Last week on the Jack Vita Show, top news-breaker and national baseball writer Bob Nightengale was asked about Bellinger's prospects as a free agent.
“You’re only going to have a few teams interested," Nightengale said. "Will the Yankees be interested? I would think the San Francisco Giants would be. You’re only talking about, realistically, three or four teams, because he’s going to ask for a lot of money. He’s going to ask for over $200 million for sure, if not $300 million. I would think it will be a slow winter for him. I could see him sitting out there in January or February, just waiting for someone to meet that price tag. Obviously the Cubs know him very well now after being with him. They know whether this is an aberration or if he’ll continue being better, now that he’s healthy. He has the most value to them. And I’m sure the Giants have interest as well. He’s a former Dodger, it would be kind of cool to have him there. And they need star power. If they can’t get Ohtani, maybe they say, ‘Okay, Bellinger, he can sell some tickets.”
Nightengale lists the Cubs, Giants and Yankees as potential landing spots for the 28 year-old Arizona native.
Bellinger has been imperative to the Cubs' success in 2023. Entering September 17, the Cubs are 15-18 with Bellinger out of their lineup. The club is 62-53 when Bellinger starts. It makes sense why the Cubs would try to retain him, and it appears that the club's chances of re-signing Bellinger have increased.
The Giants have been trying to land a star for years. Since 2018, the club has pursued Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa. Attendance has gone down for San Francisco in recent years. Adding a marquee player could fill the park once again, just as it did when the Giants signed Barry Bonds to a record, six-year, $43.75 million deal in 1993.
Bellinger grew up going to Yankees games and spending time around Yankee Stadium when his dad played for the Bronx Bombers from 1999 to 2001. Perhaps New York could once again be home to him.
Nightengale was asked about one other team: the San Diego Padres.
“It would be interesting to see if they trade (Juan) Soto or not,” Nightengale said. “I would. He’s got one year left. It blew up in their face. I think the Padres are the most underachieving team in baseball history, not just this season, but any season. So much star power and stuff like that. They could use [Bellinger’s] bat and they could use a first baseman. So I’m not going to rule it out, just because of some of the stuff the Padres do… I’d probably throw San Diego in the mix. Any time there’s a big time free agent, you only have a few teams involved. I mean, look at a guy like Aaron Judge. There were only three or four teams involved with a guy like him too.”
The Padres could use an upgrade at first base. Since signing shortstop Xander Bogaerts to an 11-year, $280 million deal last winter, San Diego has reshuffled its entire infield, moving Ha-Seong Kim to second base and Jake Cronenworth to first. Through 127 games this season, Cronenworth has slashed just .229/.312/.689. Despite having the sport's third-highest payroll, the Padres have severely disappointed in 2023. The club entered play Sunday with a 71-78 record.
The Padres could look to trim some of their payroll this winter, and trade Juan Soto with a year remaining on his contract. A Soto extension will be very expensive, and Bellinger could be a cheaper alternative. Soto reportedly declined a $440 million extension offer from the Washington Nationals, before he was traded last summer.
“I think it would make more sense if they’re interested in Bellinger, trading Soto and replacing him with Bellinger," Nightengale said. "It’s obviously going to be cheaper than Soto’s contract. Same agent. We’ll see what happens. The Padres have got to make some changes. We’ll see what they do.”
Expect Chicago and San Francisco to be in on Bellinger this winter, with New York and San Diego as other potential landing spots for the former MVP. Past that, it doesn't appear that it will be an overly competitive market.
You can catch the full conversation with Bob Nightengale on the Jack Vita Show here:
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