Chicago Cubs No Longer Seen As Favorites To Land Former Star Slugger

It would be hard-pressed to find a team who has had a more disappointing offseason so far than the Chicago Cubs.

After ownership and the front office declared they were going to build a contender before the start of 2024, they went out and hired Craig Counsell as manager to signal they were serious about those proclamations.

However, after missing out on Shohei Ohtani in free agency and not ponying up to get Juan Soto or Tyler Glasnow in the trade market, they are sitting there with nothing to show for it.

Of course, the offseason is long and the Cubs still have time to land high-profile players to address their needs, but right now, it hasn't been a good Winter.

One player Chicago could turn their attention towards again is Cody Bellinger, who they once said was their No. 1 priority.

But, Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY reports that they have some serious competition if they want to re-sign their star slugger in free agency.

"The Toronto Blue Jays have emerged as the favorite for Cody Bellinger with the Cubs still in the hunt," he writes.

They were another team in the midst of the Ohtani sweepstakes with rumors swirling they were actually going to land the phenom. But, the Toronto Blue Jays now have to pick themselves up off the mat and are looking at Bellinger to be their left-handed power bat.

The Blue Jays look willing to spend this offseason as they try to compete in the American League East division, with their sites set on winning a World Series title.

As the Cubs are seemingly hesitant to give out massive money to their former slugger, this could provide the opening that sends him on his way to Toronto.