Cubs Insider Not Optimistic About Cody Bellinger Negotiations

A Cubs beat writer explains why Cody Bellinger is unlikely to re-sign with Chicago.

More than a month after Cody Bellinger declined his $25 million mutual option with the Chicago Cubs for 2024, he is still a free agent.

That's not too surprising, as many of this Winter's top free agents are still on the board. Even after Shohei Ohtani finally landed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the offseason has still yet to kick into high gear.

With Bellinger still on the market, many Cubs fans are hoping for a reunion that brings him back to the Windy City. According to one Chicago beat writer, however, they shouldn't get their hopes up.

"I think both sides would love a reunion."@sahadevsharma speaks on the likelihood Cody Bellinger re-signs with the Cubs and which areas the organization will look to address this offseason. pic.twitter.com/KxciJtt2QA

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 13, 2023

Cubs reporter Sahadev Sharma appeared on MLB Network's "Hot Stove" program recently to give his thoughts on the team's offseason and its situation with Bellinger. While Sharma said he thinks that "both sides would love a reunion," he isn't optimistic about it. 

Sharma believes Bellinger's asking price is out of Chicago's price range. He doesn't think president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer would be comfortable committing more than $200 million to Bellinger, whose performance has been extremely erratic over the last few seasons. 

Bellinger is represented by the Boras Corporation, and Scott Boras clients typically hold out for the last dollar. They generally don't take hometown discounts to stay with their teams and almost always sign with the highest bidder. 

"The price has to come down, and if it's in the $160-$180 (million) range, maybe we see a reunion, but I just don't see it happening now," Sharma said.

That would be well below Bellinger's asking price, and he's certainly not going to take a deal that low so early in the offseason. If it gets closer to Spring Training and he still hasn't signed yet, maybe he'd consider it, but Cubs fans should start preparing for the possibility that Bellinger won't be back next year.