Insider Gives Cubs "Zero Chance" at Re-Signing Slugger This Winter

Cody Bellinger is expected to test the waters of free agency again this winter. One MLB insider doesn't like the Chicago Cubs chances of keeping him.

Jack Vita | Aug 13, 2023

Insider Gives Cubs "Zero Chance" at Re-Signing Slugger This Winter /

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In his first season with the Chicago Cubs, 2019 National League MVP Cody Bellinger has reinvented himself, and he appears to be in line for a hefty payday.

One MLB insider, however, strongly believes that the Chandler, Ariz., native will be taking his talents to another roster upon season's end.

In a July 27 episode of the Jack Vita Show, Bob Nightengale, longtime national baseball writer for USA Today, proclaimed that the Cubs have "zero chance" at retaining Bellinger.

"I think there's zero chance that they would re-sign him as a free agent," Nightengale told the Jack Vita Show. "His agent is Scott Boras. He's had a big year, so I would think that there will be a massive price tag on him, over $100 million. So I think he's going to be sitting out until next February, signing right around spring training... I wouldn't be surprised if they ask for at least $150 million."

Bellinger and the Cubs have a mutual option for the 2024 season. Given Bellinger's season, it's likely he'll opt out and explore free agency.

The Cubs have already committed two outfield spots to the likes of Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki through 2026. The Cubs signed Suzuki to a five-year, $85 million contract in March of 2022. Happ received a three-year, $61 million extension in April. Neither has quite lived up to expectations in 2023.

Since inking his extension April 12, Happ has batted just .240 with 12 home runs. He hasn't hit for much contact or power. He has boasted an impressive .365 on-base percentage, but typically clubs want more offensive production out of their three-hole hitter and left fielder.

Suzuki's lackluster output (.249/.328/.717) recently had the second-year player benched in the thick of a playoff chase.

The Cubs may be hesitant to shell out a big contract to another outfielder. The position is an organizational strength, with several promising young players expected to be coming up through their farm system over the next few years. Three of the Cubs' Top Four prospects are outfielders, according to MLB.com.

Perhaps retaining Bellinger would be more likely for the Cubs had the club not extended Happ and/or signed Suzuki.

Failing to sign Bellinger would be a huge loss for the Cubs. He has undoubtedly been the team's best hitter and has posted the Cubs' second-highest WAR this season.

Nightengale also believes that teams may be reluctant to pony up big money to Bellinger, as some think he is due for regression.

"The jury is out on Bellinger," Nightengale said. "The Dodgers are smarter than everybody... and they gave up on him. I don't think they thought he was going to do what he's doing, but I'm not sure how many people think he's going to sustain this either."

Bellinger slashed .326/.378/.925 with 16 home runs, 53 RBI and 17 stolen bases, through his first 81 games in 2023.

You can catch the full conversation with Bob Nightengale on the Jack Vita Show here:

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Published Aug 13, 2023

JACK VITA

Jack Vita is a writer and contributor to Sports Illustrated's Inside the Cubs, and host of the Jack Vita Show, a popular sports podcast available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and wherever podcasts are found. Jack is a 2017 graduate of Valparaiso University, in northwest Indiana. Since completing his degree, Jack has created his own independent sports media outlet (JackVita.com) and podcast (the Jack Vita Show). He has featured prominent guests from the worlds of sports and entertainment including Brian Urlacher, Scot Pollard, Bob Nightengale, Dan O'Dowd, and Survivor icons Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick, Cirie Fields, Danni Boatwright and "the Dragon Slayer", Coach Benjamin Wade. While studying at Valparaiso, Jack was the school newspaper's beat writer for the Valpo Crusaders men's basketball team, which won three straight Horizon League championships from 2015-2017. Traveling to cover the team, Jack had a front row seat to one of the nation's best mid-major teams, headlined by future NBA Draft pick Alec Peters and coached by NCAA Tournament hero Bryce Drew. Jack hosted a weekly sports radio show and provided play-by-play and color commentary services for ESPN 3 and the university's student radio station, WVUR-FM, 95.1 The Source, covering Valparaiso men's soccer, women's basketball, softball and volleyball. Jack also covered these sports, in addition to men's and women's tennis, baseball and women's soccer for the school newspaper, The Torch. While he was in college, Jack interned for and co-hosted Jewell On Sports, a sports radio program on AM 1050 WLIP in Kenosha, Wisconsin. There, he interviewed various pro athletes such as Ahman Green, Javon Walker and Javier Arenas, in addition to talking sports with the late, great Brad Jewell. Jack also interned for 22nd Century Media, a now defunct newspaper corporation that provided news to the North Shore of Chicago. With 22nd Century Media, Jack wrote post-game recaps, feature stories about local athletes, reviews of local restaurants and compiled the newspaper's "Pet of the Week" and "Athlete of the Week" sections, while providing copy-editing services. Before attending Valparaiso, Jack enrolled at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he studied for two years before transferring. He is a high school graduate of New Trier Township High School in Winnetka, Illinois. You can follow Jack on Twitter @JackVitaShow, subscribe to his podcast, the Jack Vita Show, wherever podcasts are found, and reach him via email at jack@jackvita.com.