Inside The Cubs

Report: Chicago Cubs Have Bellinger On Their Radar

The Chicago Cubs are looking to add help in center field and Cody Bellinger could be the player to help solve the issues.

Kade Kistner

Report: Chicago Cubs Have Bellinger On Their Radar
Report: Chicago Cubs Have Bellinger On Their Radar /
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The Chicago Cubs are reportedly interested in center fielder Cody Bellinger according to NBC Sports Chicago Gordon Wittenmyer. He says the 2019 National League MVP is on the Cubs' Radar.

It's an interesting prospect to say the least, coming from Chicago. Bellinger is a proven player who has had a precipitous drop off in production since his MVP-winning season. However, he is a perfect candidate for a change of scenery. He may do well getting out of the Los Angeles market.

Bellinger's .210/.265/.389 slashline with 19 home runs seems almost unsustainable, and not in the way in which one expects him to regress negatively. Instead, Bellinger has proved he is a capable player that can perform at an elite level. He will likely progress back to the mean, at least that is what the Cubs have to be hoping for if he is truly on their radar.

He will likely be looking for a one-year deal to prove he can get back on track and show that his shoulder surgery is behind him and perform offensively at the level needed to return to MVP form.

Of note, Bellinger is not only an elite defender in center field, but he can play first base. His agent Scott Boras claims he can play Gold Glove defense at both positions. The assertion probably isn't far off as he won the award for his efforts in right field in 2019 and has 14 DRS at center over the course of 377 games and two DRS over 262 games at first base.

He could be a good fit for Chicago, bringing  ever-important veteran mentality and leadership to a very young clubhouse.

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Kade Kistner
KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Cubs. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl. During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated. Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.

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