Cubs Slugger Bellinger Has 'Rare Commodity' On Open Market
Chicago Cubs slugger Cody Bellinger is in line for a big pay day this offseason, assuming he does the expected and passes on triggering the mutual option on his deal with the Cubs.
The Cubs and Bellinger have a $25 million mutual option as part of the deal that he signed this past offseason.
Bellinger’s agent is Scott Boras, one of the top agents in all of baseball. He recently spoke to USA Today about Bellinger’s future and he believes the opportunity is high for him to get a long-term deal with the kind of eye-popping money that was thrown around last offseason.
The reason? Rarity.
“Demand is often created by rarity,’’ Boras said. “When you have the rarity of age, the skill level, a five-tool player, a Gold Glove center fielder and first baseman who can run, throw, hit, and hit for power, that’s a rare commodity in baseball.
“And the demand for that is very, very high."
Bellinger is having an incredible season, given that he had two awful seasons in 2021 and 2022, much of which was due to a shoulder injury he suffered celebrating a home run during the 2020 World Series.
In 2021 and 2022 Bellinger slashed a combined .193/.256/.355/.611 with 36 doubles, five triples, 29 home runs and 104 RBI. Two years before, in 2019, Bellinger was the National League MVP as he slashed .305/.406/.629/1.035 with 47 home runs and 115 RBI.
Bellinger’s numbers in 2023 — despite missing a month due to a hamstring injury — better resemble his numbers pre-shoulder injury. Through 100 games with the Cubs he’s slashed .320/.366/.543/.909 with 23 doubles, one triple, 20 home runs and 75 RBI.
How much money could Bellinger be in line for this offseason? No one can be certain, but the USA Today piece did make a comparison between the 28-year-old Bellinger and Mookie Betts, who turned 27 when he signed his 12-year, $365 million deal with the Dodgers three years ago.
Bellinger is likely to get paid this offseason. It could be the Cubs. It could be someone else. For now, all Bellinger will say is that he’s enjoying his time in Chicago and that he’s focused on helping the Cubs reach the playoffs.
But his teammates and manager, David Ross, have been thoroughly impressed with Bellinger this season.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever been around a player, managing wise," Ross said, “that’s been so consistently good. He’s so important to our offense, to our defense, and to our team."
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