My Favorite Part About Having Cody Bellinger Back on the Cubs

There are a dozen reasons this overnight deal with Cody Bellinger is good news for the 2024 Chicago Cubs. In terms of performance, they needed his bat, his left-handedness, and his general ability and leadership. And from a financial/roster standpoint, the short-term nature of the deal limits the downside, even if he does wind up opting out after just one year. Those are the primary/obvious reasons to be thrilled with the outcome.

But my favorite part about having Cody Bellinger back on the Cubs in 2024 can be broken down into three pieces — (1) Pressure, (2) Flexibility/Cover, (3) Upside. And that has more to do with the impact Cody Bellinger will have on his teammates than anything he’ll provide directly.

Pressure

With Cody Bellinger on the roster, the Chicago Cubs are all but guaranteed to start Pete Crow-Armstrong in Triple-A Iowa. That will provide time and cover for the Cubs top prospect (who’s still only 21 years old!) to wrap up his adjustments and arrive on his own timeline – which also happens to be best for his own development. Absent a major injury, there will be no forced promotion, no “before-he’s ready” activity, no “savior expectations.”

In other words, the pressure on PCA’s shoulders was just lifted. Now, he can focus on making whatever adjustments he needs to make to handle big league pitching *without* worrying about producing and getting up to Chicago as soon as possible to take over for Mike Tauchman or Alexander Canario.

Long-term, I don’t think anything could have been better for PCA’s development. And that has very real value to the Cubs beyond 2024.

Flexibility and Cover

But Pete Crow-Armstrong isn’t the only one who will benefit.

Remember, the Cubs traded for the Dodgers left-handed slugging prospect, Michael Busch, this offseason and have already anointed him the Opening Day first baseman. He’s widely expected to hit right away, but that’s hardly a guarantee. Now, if he struggles (offensively or defensively), the Cubs will have the flexibility of using Cody Bellinger at first base, pushing Busch to the bench, Iowa, or DH.

But even if Busch doesn’t struggle, the Cubs now have an extra left-handed bat to stick in the middle of their lineup. Without Bellinger, Busch probably would have had to be that guy. And that’s even more pressure than PCA would’ve faced.

Just considering lineups against righties, we probably just went from (something like) this…

1. Ian Happ, LF (S)
2. Seiya Suzuki, RF (R)
3. Michael Busch, 1B (L)
4. Chris Morel, 3B (R)
5. Dansby Swanson, SS (R)
6. Mike Tauchman, CF (L)
7. Nico Hoerner, 2B (R)
8. Designated Hitter (if Morel really plays 3B)
9. Gomes/Amaya, C (R)

… to something like this…

1. Ian Happ, LF (S)
2. Seiya Suzuki, RF (R)
3. Cody Bellinger, CF (L)
4. Chris Morel, 3B (R)
5. Michael Busch, 1B (L)
6. Dansby Swanson (R)
7. Nico Hoerner, 2B (R)
8. Designated Hitter (if Morel really plays 3B)
9. Gomes/Amaya, C (R)

Again, that’s not just good for the obvious lengthening of the lineup (swapping in Bellinger for Tauchman), but it’s good for Busch’s development, which should help the Cubs in the long-term.

There’s also the fact that the lineups on off-days for Ian Happ or Seiya Suzuki just got a whole lot better. That’s a whole other positive consideration.

Upside with Cody Bellinger on Board

But let’s talk about the Cubs upside, because it just shot way up. If we’re REALLY lucky this year, three things will happen:

1. Christopher Morel will continue hitting AND take to 3B defensively
2. Michael Busch will hit as well as we all hope/expect
3. Pete Crow-Armstrong will make his adjustments and be ready to patrol center field sooner than later

If all three bets hit, the Cubs have an incredible solution: PCA bumps Bellinger out of center, Bellinger bumps Busch off first, Busch bumps no one out of DH (or takes over 3B for Morel, who can DH).

That improves the defense in center field (PCA > Belli) and first base (Belli > Busch), while adding another left-handed bat to the lineup. Look at how good this lineup would be defensively, and look at the lefty/righty balance.

1. Ian Happ, LF (S)
2. Seiya Suzuki, RF (R)
3. Cody Bellinger, 1B (L)
4. Chris Morel, 3B (R)
5. Michael Busch, DH (L)
6. Dansby Swanson (R)
7. Nico Hoerner, 2B (R)
8. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF (L)
9. Gomes/Amaya, C (R)

You’ve got Gold Glove candidates in left field, center field, first, second, and shortstop. After that, you’re perfectly happy with your defense in right and at catcher. And that really leaves just one spot (3B) with likely below average defensive production, but tons of offensive potential. It’s a dream.

You’ve also got three lefties (Belli, Busch, PCA), one switch-hitter (Happ), and four righties (Suzuki, Morel, Swanson, Hoerner, Gomes/Amaya). That’s a lot of balance for Craig Counsell to attack opposing pitching staffs.

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So yes, Bellinger’s biggest and most direct value to the 2024 Cubs in 2024 will be his own production, but his mere presence could help provide cover for two very important prospects trying to break through while preserving the upside even if everything works out perfectly. Just a huge, huge move.