NEWSLETTER
Weeks of speculating and wondering, and now we know for sure: Cody Bellinger will become a free agent.
Per Ken Rosenthal, the non-tender from the Dodgers is coming tonight:
At 27, but truly terrible at the plate the last two years in both results and in how he managed them, Cody Bellinger is going to be a really difficult-to-predict free agency. His exceptional defense in center field (and at first base) creates quite a floor, but if he can no longer offer even league-average offense, how much value is there? Ah, but what if you can FIX him? Some team is going to try.
… And that team should be the Chicago Cubs, who can use that glove in center field, could use a chance at lefty power, have outfield prospects on the way in the long-term so prefer a shorter deal, and can promise Bellinger plenty of runway to break back out. Bellinger figures to be looking for a one-year pillow contract to try to set himself back up for a bigger payday, and he’ll probably start by looking for a deal close to what he would’ve gotten from the Dodgers. I would say $18 million seems really high for a chance at a bounce-back, but at least $10 million should be easy. Probably closer to $15 million.
Reportedly, the Cubs will pursue Bellinger after the non-tender. Realistically, neither Brennen Davis nor Alexander Canario will be able to take over in center field early in the season no matter what (and Pete Crow-Armstrong could be at least a year away), so landing Bellinger feels like a perfect bridge opportunity for the Cubs, even if you’re all about the prospects.
