December 14: The Cubs have officially announced the signing.
December 6: The Cubs are in agreement on a deal with outfielder Cody Bellinger. It will be a one-year deal with a $12.5MM salary and a $5MM buyout on a mutual option, bringing the guarantee to $17.5MM. Bellinger is represented by the Boras Corporation.
Bellinger, 27, has been one of the more interesting free agents this offseason, given that he has shown incredible upside in the past but has been in a dismal downturn in recent years. Over his first three seasons, 2017 to 2019, Bellinger hit 111 home runs and stole 39 bases. He walked in 12.4% of his plate appearances, leading to a batting line of .278/.368/.559 for a wRC+ of 140, indicating he was 40% better than league average during that time. That included a 2019 season where he hit 47 home runs, swiped 15 bags and produced a wRC+ of 161. He also provided excellent outfield defense, leading to a tally of 7.7 wins above replacement in the eyes of FanGraphs. He was awarded the National League Most Valuable Player award for that season.
Bellinger slid a bit from those heights in the shortened 2020 season. He hit .239/.333/.455, still above average with his wRC+ finishing at 112, but a significant drop-off from previous seasons. An ill-advised celebration in the postseason caused a shoulder injury that required surgery and he hasn’t seemed himself since. He hit just .165/.240/.302 in 2021 for a wRC+ of 47, then bounced back a bit in 2022 but still finished at .210/.265/.389, wRC+ of 83.
Despite those down years, Bellinger’s salary kept climbing for a few reasons. He reached arbitration for the first time going into 2020, on the heels of his MVP campaign, as a Super Two player. He quickly jumped up to $11.5MM in his first year of eligibility and then to $16.1MM for 2021 after having a diminished but still productive 2020. Since the arbitration system is designed to push salaries up, Bellinger jumped to $17MM for 2022 despite his poor performance in the prior season. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected another jump to $18.1MM for 2023 but the Dodgers decided to cut bait and non-tendered Bellinger, sending him to free agency. With Bellinger now moving on to a new club, they will have to chart a new course in center field for 2023.
Despite the rough few years Bellinger has had, he still found robust interest as a free agent. At one point, Heyman reported that there were 11 teams at the table. That’s due to a couple of factors, one of them being that Bellinger was looking for a one-year deal so that he could potentially return to form and then go back to free agency in search of a better deal. That opened the door to many suitors who would normally be wary of a lengthy commitment but would happily take a short-term bet on a player with MVP upside. There’s also the fact that Bellinger provides a decent floor with his speed and excellent center field defense. Despite a subpar batting line in 2022, he still produced 1.7 fWAR by stealing 17 bases and producing six Outs Above Average in center field.
The Cubs were linked to Bellinger a few weeks ago and make plenty of sense as a landing spot for him. The rebuilding team had a rotating cast of characters playing center field for them this year, including Christopher Morel, Jason Heyward, Rafael Ortega, Nelson Velázquez and Michael Hermosillo. All of those players were subpar at the plate except for Morel, who is a natural infielder and produced poor defensive numbers on the grass. The Cubs have some intriguing outfield prospects that could fill this role in the long run, but Bellinger and Ian Happ are set to become free agents a year from now, meaning there’s plenty of long-term runway. Seiya Suzuki, who’s controlled through 2026, is the only outfielder penciled in for the long haul.
Financially, there’s no real impediment for the Cubs either. Bellinger’s contract pushes their commitments to just under $140MM for next year, according to Roster Resource. They had an Opening Day payroll of $143MM in 2022, per Cot’s Baseball Contracts, but have been over $203MM in recent seasons and should have plenty of space still to work with.
The Cubs have been rebuilding in recent years but could be aggressive this offseason in trying to return to contention in 2023. Whether they are successful or not, Bellinger could potentially be valuable to them. As mentioned, Bellinger can still be a useful ballplayer even if his bat doesn’t rebound to previous levels. If he and the team are both playing well, that’s a great outcome for all involved. If he’s playing well and the club is bad, his short-term deal means he should be able to be flipped at the deadline for prospects. As mentioned, even if Bellinger doesn’t truly bounce back, he can still be a useful player with his glovework and baserunning, meaning he could still be an interested trade chip regardless.
Jon Heyman of The New York Post was first with Bellinger going to the Cubs. Jeff Passan of ESPN first had the $17.5MM guarantee. Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times first reported the structure of the $12.5MM salary with $5MM buyout on the mutual option.
David Ross was told , didn’t know lol
I’m watching intentional Talk too. Haha.
I love this as a Cubs fan.
Yeah, he will strike out 200 times next year, I’d love that too
( sarcasm)
Nah. A.change of scenery will be good for him.
Forget the bat.
Lol wow
I think he needs a change of shoulder if that makes sense
Change of scenery won’t help much when the wind gusts blow in from the lake
Sad since he can’t rob HRs in Chicago with that stupid net
The Bellinger signing buys time for PCA, and provides a safety net for Mervis – should he start a bit slow.
This is an Ideal signing for the Chicago cubs. The money doesn’t matter on a 1 year deal with plenty of payroll flexibility. Hopefully it’s a homerun
Nice one!
Mervis will outhit Belli.
PCA, Alcantara and Davis will. All be ready by Opening Day 2025.
Ok with signing because it is short, if the kids are ready sooner Belli can come in late on game as defensive replacement
I was thinking that too, but more like Korea or maybe even the Philappines.
@Pete He forgot his bat a few years ago
fivepoundbass — Of course, what I meant was that any team looking to Bellinger should forget the bat, it’s gone. Truth be told he’s a very good CF, but not Gold Glove according to the stats. Anyway, it’s the Cubs problem now—and an expensive one.
Agreed. As a Cub fan, I’m indifferent. I don’t see them getting close to the cap this year, so I don’t think this contract hurts anything. Just wish they aimed higher
101 ESPN here in Saint Louis was saying how they would sign him for 1 year $10m and I thought that would be a massive overpay for a guy that had one of the worst bats in the MLB for the past 2+ years.
Hey look at that someone signed Bellinger to 12 million. Who could have predicted that.
They got the money and I’m getting a huge cut.
Its actually $17.5 with the buyout. I don’t understand how this guy keeps getting $17M/yr with the terrible offensive numbers. And With Chicago, Bellinger’s defensive ability is hampered too… small outfield, and its not like he’ll be launching himself into a wall of bricks. $12.5 + $5M… good for him
I don’t see any way that Bellinger agrees to the 2nd year option. I don’t know if the option voids if he is the one that declines
He can’t decline.
Story says that it’s a mutual option. I guess I don’t know what that means
The buyout is guaranteed either way.
Both sides have to agree to pickup the option. If one declines, Cody gets the buyout and he is a free agent.
He absolutely can decline; it is a mutual option. If either party declines, the option is not picked up. Mutual options never get picked up anyways so this is just a way for the Cubs to spread out the $17.5M owed to him. He’ll get $12.5M over the regular season with a lump sum $5M payment in November.
I believe it’s rare that both sides agree on the option.
He’ll do well with Heyward in the OF…oh wait…oops
How could this guy be so good & just disappear? Do the cubs have a coach that can wean him back to BB? I say give him to TB & see what happens…
Hahahahahaha
Hahahahaha
Lol
Lol imagine not thinking that Bellinger signing was good.
Cody the Cubbie
Well let’s wait because its Jon Heyman reporting
No, Bellinger’s a Boras client. Heyman probably knew before Mrs. Bellinger.
that guy is such a joke
HE’S DRUNK….AGAIN.
Smart, flip at the deadline and drop the QO chance….
I don’t think a player can get a QO if they’re traded. Unless Pete Crow-Armstrong is ready in July. There’s no reason to trade him. And PCA likely won’t be up that soon. Maybe Sept. Call.up
If the Cubs struggle, Bellinger plays well, and PCA continues on his upward path I think they’ll flip him. Otherwise, no.
You’re right, players can’t get the QO if they’ve been traded. But I’m guessing OP meant that Bellinger could fetch prospects in either a July trade or a QO situation
They can’t get a QO if they’re traded IN SEASON before the deadline. If they keep him all year and pick up his option they can.
A recent example is what happened w/ Josh Donaldson. He was traded from Toronto to Cleveland in season while on the last year of his contract. He then signed a one year deal with Atlanta and declined the QO they could offer him b/c he was signed as a free-agent and had never been eligible for a QO. He signed a terrible deal w/ the Twins and the Braves got a draft pick. Same as they got one for Freddie and will get one for Dansby if he signs elsewhere.
This is a great fit, though I was hoping he’d sign with my beloved Giants. The Cubs are well equipped for four outcomes that come to mind: flip him in July for a solid return, extend him to a multi-year deal, get that qualifying offer draft compensation if he leaves, or have him accept a qualifying offer.
If Bellinger approaches his All Star form and the Cubs are bad, that’s a nice trade deadline haul. The Cubs also have the money to extend him, and they’ll have first dibs to throw money at a resurgent Bellinger. If he’s good enough to reject a qualifying offer, the Cubs will at least get a draft pick for one year of a great player. And even if Bellinger performs not-so well, the Cubs have the money and flexibility to risk having him accept a qualifying offer and try to get him to find his former glory on another one-year deal.
The only other outcome I can see is Bellinger being so bad that even a big market team with financial flexibility doesn’t want to put forth a qualifying offer on a 20-something former MVP. But the cost of that outcome is a one-year $17.5M deal on a Cubs team not built to “win now.”
Excellent fit
They flipped Robertson last year. That seemed to work
@cainer18: very well worded, but a few faults in your analysis: with Boras as his agent, there is no way Bellinger signs an extension midseason and no way he accepts a QO if he has a great year (but they will receive a nice extra draft pick as you pointed out). And if he again is subpar then the Cubs probably let him walk. So the best case scenario for the Cubs is trading him midseason if he is great and they are again mediocre. If he sticks around for the entire 2023 season then the cost of re-signing him will be dependent upon his performance.
But I definitely agree with you that he is an excellent fit and at a good price.
BTW – I’m a San Fran fan also – Go Giants!
@Bill Thanks! You’re right that Boras clients rarely extend, but it’s not impossible. If Bellinger returns to All Star levels, I’d imagine he’d feel like the change of scenery was partially responsible and would be more likely to be favorable to staying in Chicago. Even if that doesn’t result in an extension before free agency, it gives the Cubs a leg up over other teams; other teams would need to sell Bellinger on their franchises and how they envision Bellinger could be successful there, whereas the Cubs already have that covered. The Cubs would still need to pay, but it might serve as a “tie breaker” if other teams offer similar contracts.
And I didn’t mean to imply that he’d accept a qualifying offer if he had a good season, I was pointing out that if he falters again he may still be worth another one-year deal and the Cubs (currently) have the financial room to overpay for another one-year lottery ticket on Bellinger — somewhat similar to how the Giants used the QO to keep Joc Pederson one a one-year deal rather than risk him signing for multiple years and/or signing elsewhere.
It’s a win-win for the Cubs. Makes a ton of sense. If his bat stinks he’s still a Gold Glove CF, They decline the mutual option and offer and pay him 5 mil to walk and turn it over to PCA in 2023. If he’s good, they make him a QO which he declines and recoup a draft pick. Or he’s good and he likes it here and he stays. Most of the options are good for the Cubs. I don’t believe any of that nonsense about them signing 2 SS’s. I just hope they get one. There are other holes to fill.
I don’t think QO would come into play because he has an option
If the Cubs pick up their option they can, I think. 2024 for PCA I mean.
If Cody declines, they can slap a QO on him.
If the option is declined, Bellinger becomes a free agent (just the same as any other free agent who completes his contract in full). So the Cubs could put a QO on Bellinger after declining his option. The real question is whether or not Bellinger can play well enough in 2023 to even warrant issuing a QO. I’m not sure he can at this point.
Finally the Cubs do something!
Yeah, they spent $17.5M on a good defensive/no hit CF. He’ll hit a few HRs at Wrigley. But will it be worth THAT kind of money?
Sounds like a cheaper option to replace Heyward, no?
@lou It would be cheaper, except that they are still paying Heyward. It’s an added cost
The Cubs have to pay $5.5 mil for him to go away at end of 2023 (wonder if contract includes if Cubs trade him during season). Creative way to get close to the 18 mil Dodgers would have had to pay.
Yes. All teams in the cubs position (rebuild, have money) should salivate after deals like this. Absolute worst case scenario: he is off the books in one year. One can easily imagine him bouncing back even the smallest amount and getting flipped for prospects
This is a no brainier
lol there is no such thing as a high risk one year deal for a club not expected to contend
My last comment was meant in a different thread
Yeah typical dumpster diving.
“I know nothing… nothing”. The annual Ricketts response to stuffing their pockets with cash, and doing nothing in the off-season. The Cubs, Yankees & Red Sox are all operating like they’re the Rays, when ALL OF THEM could field a $300M payroll each season and flick pocket change at the luxury tax, while laughing like Ted DiBiase.
I don’t think you need the “”.
Calling this something is really stretching it.
What??
easy stess-fee atmosphere and club, that is going nowhere. He should be just fine and weirdly be the only threat in that line up and only All Star on that team. Slick move
What a clueless comment. Well, haters gonna hate.
@rondon I’m a lifelong Cubs fan, and I’m struggling to come up with a player who is a lock for a really good season. OP may not be far off
You could be right. I just think Bellinger buys time in CF til PCA is ready. Also can play some 1B. His defense is outstanding. And who knows, he may get his swing back which would be a great problem to have.
They’re closer to contending that most people think. If they add and of the remaining SS and at least one SP, they’ll compete. You gotta remember they’re in the weakest division in baseball
The Cubs were also 8 games over .500 after the All-Star break last year.
Alot of people forget the Cubs actually had a winning record in the 2nd half after the All-Star Break.
Agree very close to contending for division very far from competing to win WS
Man, this one hurts. Even with his struggles of late, Cody was a fun Dodger.
Enjoyed watching him play as well. His rookie season was a lot of fun. I have my doubts that he can be a fraction of the hitter that he was but I wish him well.
“Appears to be heading to the Cubs”
seems a bit costly for 1 year
A lot costly
This market is officially stupid. 17.5M for a guy who can barely be considered a starter at this point.
It’s a great deal, great value. Change of scenery is what he needs.
Or maybe you’re officially stupid about the player market?
Like when the wind blows in? Dodgers stadium doesn’t have wind let alone gusts from the Lake
yeah, you’re funny… it’s an overinflated market, not hard to see
Needs electronic sign stealing back
Flipped at the trade deadline Cubs pay 67 percent of 12.5m. The buyout is a mutual option. Wonder how much the option year is and if Bellinger can collect the 5m if the Cubs pick up the option and he declines?
For someone with the name DeGrom Texas Ranger, sounds kinda ironic…
What were Cody’s stats the past couple of years to deserve this contract?
1.2 WAR last season?!
and that’s only because of stellar defense
If they wanted a speedy OF who can patrol CF effectively and give you very little offense, they could have signed Billy Hamilton at a tiny fraction of the cost.
Hamilton gets fewer homers and walks, Belli should hit a cool 0.220 in 2023 and be a 2.0 WAR player
@ whitesox1fan
Bellingers stats (on a ONE year contract), sure we’re not any worse than Grandals. And your brain trust gave Grandal $18M/yr.
——@dogbone…..as the highest contract in team history….and you conveniently left out Moncada and what he has left.
Basically the qualifying offer. High risk high reward
More like low risk possible high reward. It’s a 1 year deal so if it doesn’t work out they’re only out his salary for this season. They have plenty of money to work with so it’s worth a shot on a former MVP who’s still under 30.
We played Ortega, Hermosillo, Heyward, And an out position Morel in CF last year. Schmucky the clown would be an improvement.
It is very easy to spend other people’s money
I used to love Bellinger back in his glory days but he appears to be all done to me. I think there is a higher chance of him being released before the end of the 2023 season than him rebounding into an All-Star caliber OF or playing well enough to flip for notable prospects. He can’t catch up with the fastball anymore and most pitchers these days throw 95+ (especially out of the bullpen). If he can figure out how to shorten his swing and become more of a contact hitter then he has a chance to be an above average player, but it’s really hard to completely change your swing and have success doing so. I do wish him the best and hopefully he proves me dead wrong but his last three years at the plate have been awful. If he can’t hit in the warm weather of LA, I don’t see him turning his batting around in the Windy City, especially in the cold months of April and May.
He’s nothing more than trade bait for the Cubs.
…enter pic of Heyward raising his beer…….
This is not at all like the Heyward situation. Heyward came in on a long contract off of high caliber performance. This is a one year deal on a guy coming off poor performance.
This better be the appetizer before the main dish.
Well that’s. . . interesting
Is weed decriminalized in Illinois?
Yes, haha
Thank you. Curious.
When the state saw how much money they could get by taxing it, they couldn’t legalize it fast enough.
All legal now baby. Aw yeah
Not opposed to the signing but glad my team didn’t commit 17.5 mil to him based on last 2 years.
Hell of a price tag for a coin toss, at best.
Lollll
Adding that solid .265 OBP
Why didn’t they just claim him? Same amount right? Or just about.
It’s about $2M below the QO salary
Non-tender made Bellinger a free agent without having to pass through waivers, I believe. Cubs would have had to acquire Bellinger by trade before the $16MM tender/non-tender decision was due to get him at that price.
Heyman reported it ?
He’s going to Cleveland then
Nah, they already have Straw (more upside).
Fly that L for 17 mil and all his strike outs
One of the most overrated defenders in the league too. Constantly takes horrible routes to fly balls.
One could say the same thing about former Card/Cub Jim Edmonds.
Yeah but Jim Edmonds could hit
True dat. Loved h in 2008. One of my favorite players. Jimmy Ballgame.
Wow, 17.5m?? Oh well, at least it’s a one yr deal.
17 large!!! WTH?
Cody picked a place with legal weed.
How much Colombian Gold does 1 guy need?
Money well spent Cubbies…..not ….
Sick burn, Cleon.
Yeah hate to see them sign a guy for an 8 year deal coming off an MVP caliber season. You’re right it’s the same situation all over again.
A one year $17.5 million contract is so much better than a $187 million contract they gave to some other guy 7 years ago.
Wtf! Makes no sense- waste of money. Nicely done Bellinger!
When uncle Tom Ricketts said Jed could spend, he didn’t say to spend a boatload of money on a guy who can’t hit. This is terrible. Cubs suck.
Rick 1
Jed 0
Wth did Rick do?
Not blow $17 mil on a bench player for the Iowa Cubs or Oklahoma City Dodgers.
Rick doesn’t even have 17.5 M to spend because he gave it to Moncada and Eloy. He would have it if they weren’t signed to those contracts because they wouldn’t be earning what they are now in arbitration.
@re…coop
Your sure not a big picture guy, are you.
Worst signing off the offseason lmfao- he’s is not worth half of that salary
1.7 fWAR in 2022, ignorant fans are funny.
I’m not surprised the type of team he went to.
Gotta replace all those Jason Heyward strike outs somehow I guess…
This is a marketing move. Ownership has said they are rebuilding. Attendance was off last 2 seasons, to stop the bleeding bring in a guy like a Bellinger, give good feel story Mervis a shot and so on … And send off the stale unattractive old pieces like a Heywood.
Hell of a price tag for a coin toss, at best.
17.5mil for a guy who has been flat out awful for two straight seasons. Good for Cody.
His defense will be a huge upgrade for the Cubs and they also have short term money to burn. As a Cubs fan I am happy with the move. Plenty of upside too.
Not surprising. Money is right. He gets close to the arbitration money and a chance to enter fee agency on schedule with a rebound year to justify a 5+ year contract worth $100M+
Wow. As much as Cody was awesome leading up to 2020 season too much has occurred in the meantime to merit a $17.5m contract.
Surprised he got that much, but I guess it’s the current market…
Like what they’re doing, but if this is for more than one year it’s a mistake.
He’s been terrible but I do believe in Matt Holiday. Bellinger has been at OK St retooling his swing. I saw it the other day and it’s so much tighter than before. With the shift going away this could turn out to be a good sign and trade type of move for the cubbies
Sorcery
Could have had Kepler for a low a prospect and 8m 1 yr contract….makes no sense …
Max Kepler isn’t a CF…
I believe he filled in 2 years ago for Buxton, great defense, lousy bat.
hoping the cubs paid extra to get them a club option or 2. A straight up 1yr 17MM is money wasted.
Jason Heyward 2.0
Lol. How is the world does someone pay him that much?
And when the owners lock out the players again in 2025 I hope everyone reminds them of this “great” signing. What a dumb contract and more wasteful spending. Do not understand this one at all
LOLLL
This market is crazy! Contreras must be confused. So if you don’t hit for 3 years, you get paid. But if you steadily improve for three years…………yet to be determined. Hopefully not by the Cardinals.
They offered contreras more than this for 1 year via the QO…he passed. Don’t let facts get in the way of your narrative though.
That’s not an apples to apples comparison. Bellinger was seeking a one year deal. Contreras had every reason to turn down the QO. Every prognosticator in the country said he would cash in in free agency. But I’m not sure that market is really there through no fault of Contreras. He has performed well at what he does well. Bellinger fell on his face for two years and his market is still strong. The fact is there has been in subtle change in the way teams value players.
I think Contreras could end up with the Rockies or Tigers.
Hasta la vista.
Giants offered 2$25 and was told he want 1 year only. So they offered 1/$15
Way higher than I expected.
A bit surprised he was able to get that amount. Good for him.
Lol there’s your intelligent spending. Pathetic.
What’s not intelligent about it? A 1 year deal for an above average defensive CF with potential for an MVP type of bat and is only 27 years old.
Oh that’s because the Cubs didn’t sign someone for 28 years until they need a cane to walk? That’s not smart spending, it’s just what fair weather fans like.
I think the potential for an MVP bat is gone, but they don’t need him to do that. He put up 1.7 fwar last year with an 83 wRC+. If he be similar to that and continue to be a positive in CF, it’ll be fine.
If he repeats what he did last year, he’s already an upgrade for the Cubs in CF, but they’re hoping a change of scenery gets his bat going again while the short term deal allows PCA to develop more.
I’m all for players getting huge salaries.
Hopefully more young athletes in the USA will see baseball as an opportunity again to make lots of money.
Welp that’s $17.5m less they can throw at Dansby Swanson. Barves win!
Let’s Go Barves!!!
If the Braves ever change their name, God I hope it’s to the Barves. Everytime a HR is hit everyone in the lower bowl gets slimed like on Double Dare.
A double dare take!!
It’s “Barves”!
Indigenous peoples everywhere endorse the “Barfs” name
Why do you think that? the cubs are big market team who can spend. This doesn’t cut into the spending at all. As a cubs fan I’m not the biggest on Swanson so either way I’m fine if we sign him or don’t sign him.
This is the best news of the offseason. Now I don’t have to pretend to like the guy for wearing a Rockies uniform for 6 months.
So Heyward out, and Bellinger in. It’ll be interesting who’s going to have the better year overall. I think this is a mistake at that price.
It’s only a 1 year deal and I think at this point in their careers, Bellinger is better defensively.
As a Cubs fan, I am neutral on this. The biggest win on this is that he helps Cubs to one division win or gets flipped for a prospect. But it is short enough so that PCA, Davis and Alcantara will not be blocked. Signing grade C+
Heyward is done. He’s been terrible for ages. Bellinger has only been trash for ~2-ish years and he’s way younger and maybe having an off season where he’s not rehabbing a serious injury. I think he’ll still suck but it needed to be noted.
Cubs got Robbed
More crazy spending
If CB is worth 17.5 in this market, WTH is Judge going to get? 750M?
It’s just one year. Who would you rather have? Cody or Joc, a free platoon DH at the QO?
Screw it I would put Bellinger back at first and leave him there.
Fielding is not the issue and if anything you devalue him by putting him at 1B. He’s not going to hit close to what a 1B produces. And you lose the great CF defense. But again, fielding is not the issue, it’s always been hitting the last three season. As confused of a hitter as you can get at the plate. He’s become a guess hitter.
Belli is an average CF, A in field, D at plate.
Belli hits too poor for 1B
Wow, this explains why the Dodgers weren’t able to bring him back at perhaps a much lower salary, which I thought that there would be a small possibility. I figured that there would be teams looking for 2019 bounce back but I guess they kind of ignored what Bellinger has been doing at the plate the last three seasons. A lot of money for a high risk to never bounce back, albeit only one season. But that probably either means that there were multiple teams legitimately interested in spending a similar amount or Boras created many interested teams.
Exactly. By non-tendering him the Dodgers undervalued his services, or just plain didn’t want him back for another reason. And what is that other reason? Lowering payroll.
I’m not at all surprised by the number. Other teams certainly saw the potential in Bellinger playing injury-free for the first time in years, and his positional value.
The Dodgers have some holes to plug and declining productivity/roster uncertainty. I think a smarter play to reset the CBT. Make a few trades to use some of their minor league trade capital that they’ve built up, preferably on players that they can control beyond next season, and bring up a few prospects later in the season. Another reclamation project or two never huts. Field a competitive team than can make the playoffs without really going for it on the spending front, then position yourself to make a better run in 2024.
I doubt Bellinger will ever recover at the plate from what we’ve seen. More power to the Cubs for taking the gamble.
Translation: get ready for third place. Maybe you believe they can make the playoffs in an increasingly competitive division without plugging some big roster holes and with a little tinkering around the edges, but I don’t.
Like I said there will be moves but it’s not going to be the big splash signings, IMO. Potentially a couple of more significant signings but they’re not throwing $200-300mm + stupid money contracts.
Sure, this could be the season that they don’t make the playoffs but I wouldn’t count them out as there is enough talent to compete. If that freaking Giants team won the NL West in 2021, quite certain the 2023 Dodgers have a chance. Sure, Padres will be better as well as the D’backs and potentially Giants depending on which big splash signings they accomplish.
As a fan, I want them to spend “stupid money” on player contracts as I come to see a winning team and have zero investment in the profits of Dodgers, Inc. If they fail to make the playoffs this season after allowing the team to go backwards most fans will not just shrug it off, nor should they. Maybe it will take empty seats to convince ownership that Dodger fans don’t want to show up for might be competitive. Bottom line, I and tens of thousands of other Dodger fans have already paid for next season, and it looks very much like we will be watching a team that by design won’t be nearly as good as last year’s, and they weren’t good enough.
That’s a typical “fan” reaction. Not my freking money. The fk do I care how the Dodgers spend it. Very short-sighted view. How do you think the Dodgers sustainably made the playoffs in 10 straight seasons. Clue, it was not by making big free agent signings every season. I’d rather have Friedman make smart decisions on what will impact not only the short-term results but also long-term results. And he’s done a great job of that. Small-market discipline with big-market resources and thinking.
Let’s ask the Rangers in a few years how they think about the money they will have spent in last few years when they dig themselves in a deep hole. Remember when the Yankees spent like there was no tomorrow and went nowhere and dug themselves in a colossal hole?
You really have a beef with front office/owners if the Dodgers don’t freaking make the playoffs in one season after 10 consecutive years making the playoffs and 9 NL West titles and one WS title? Talk about an entitled fan.
Like I said, it will be a competitive team after Friedman makes his moves. Yeah, plenty of “fans” will btch about it. Also, contrary to common belief the Dodgers draw extremely well even in seasons when they don’t make the playoffs. The fans will still come out even if they don’t make the playoffs especially after making it the last 10 seasons. The world will not be ending if they don’t make it one season. Doubt the front office is worried about fans not showing up.
Dodger front office is also smart. They’re always going to be “in the running” for the elite top free agents out there even when they have no real interest or low interest in signing those players. It’s how Friedman and company manage fans like you who think the Dodgers should always spend.
As a season ticket holder of many years, it most definitely is my freaking money. We’re paying for this entertainment out of our own pockets. That’s where the money to run this team comes from. It doesn’t grow on the baseball tree. Sorry but I had to stop reading after you said it wasn’t our money because it damn well is. Maybe it isn’t yours but it sure as hell is mine.
This is so funny. Your entitlement is really showing. If you want real say how money is spent for an MLB team I welcome you to buy your own team. That is the only way your say counts because newsflash you don’t matter.
The Dodgers have led the NL in attendance every season in last nine COVID-less seasons. They draw even when they don’t win. You think you’re that important? If you cancel your season tickets they are filled quicker than you and I can say peace out. Keep thinking that it’s your money. Whatever floats your boat to think you’re more important than you really are. At the end of the day you’re just Joe the fan.
I am hoping some of that money goes to extend Julio Urias!
Dodgers would have spent more on Tyler or JT before Belli
Bell just signed in Cleveland for less. Talk about an overpay.
What a #clownshow the Cubs have become. There literally are a half dozen centerielders who can’t hit yet play solid D and none of them cost anywhere near what this bum costs. Wow.
Yep, Nimmo maybe…..
Those guys aren’t former mvps or are still only 27.
There’s no such thing as a bad one year deal. If he bounces back they have a phenomenal trade or extension candidate. If he sucks they cut bait only losing the gamble they were willing to take on the other scenario.
A flyer, probably an overpay but worth the chance. Figure there will be less pressure with a losing team and he may be able to build value. From Cubs perspective maybe they get lightning in a bottle
Much more than I expected. The market is crazy!
I swear if Bradley Zimmer was only 50% worse than the average player offensively instead of 95% worse, he would getting $100M
only if Zimmer realized this and worked on his game even more…
If there’s any truth to the rumors, cutting back on hits from the bong would probably lead to more hits at the plate. Good luck to him in the friendly confines.
Where’s the fun in that?
Dude, where’s the ball?
This is the what?…a bat…that’s so chill man….
To this day not sure if that rumor is true or not
Me neither. I only heard the rumor recently, after he became a free agent. I do think he looked pretty baked in some of the photos, and his answer on the Jimmy Kimmel Show when asked about it was interesting:
“I am not high during the games, OK?” Bellinger said bluntly. “If you look at me in the Little League World Series at 12, I look faded. I was not smoking when I was 12 years old, either. I’m not high, that’s just how my face looks.”
“During the games” — does that mean something?
Uh, isn’t that too much for a guy who’s had three bad-to-horrible years in a row?!
Yep. The winds will be blowing out at Wrigley a lot next year. Mostly because of Bellingers swings and misses.
Most expensive pillow contract I’ve seen in some time. Ok then.
If he has another bad season, his price tag will go from 17,5M$ to 3M$. Surprised he got that much, good luck to him though
Unless he suddenly becomes awful in CF, he’ll get more than $3m.
That price and his reported asking price, to me said that he wants to ensure at least one last decent pay day, as opposed to being confident in his ability to return to form and seek a larger deal next year. Who knows though, maybe there was a bidding war for his services…
Wait! So he’s replacing Jason Heyward? Only difference is the contract
There’s really no such thing as a bad one year deal but $17.5m for a guy who hasn’t hit at all in, what, 3 years?
Landing in CHC makes sense for all involved, though. The Cubbies certainly have the money and probably aren’t going to compete next year anyway. If Bellinger still sucks, no big deal. If he returns to form, maybe he pushes the Cubs to WC contention. And Bellinger is going to get (maybe) overpaid and plenty of playing time.
As a cards fan, I’m hoping this isn’t a precursor to them trading for murphy and signing 2 of the shortstops. Cards could be left holding their jockstraps. Not saying that would make them better than the cards but it would tighten the margin.
This is a great fit, though I was hoping he’d sign with my beloved Giants. The Cubs are well equipped for four outcomes that come to mind: flip him in July for a solid return, extend him to a multi-year deal, get that qualifying offer draft compensation if he leaves, or have him accept a qualifying offer.
If Bellinger approaches his All Star form and the Cubs are bad, that’s a nice trade deadline haul. The Cubs also have the money to extend him, and they’ll have first dibs to throw money at a resurgent Bellinger. If he’s good enough to reject a qualifying offer, the Cubs will at least get a draft pick for one year of a great player. And even if Bellinger performs not-so well, the Cubs have the money and flexibility to risk having him accept a qualifying offer and try to get him to find his former glory on another one-year deal.
The only other outcome I can see is Bellinger being so bad that even a big market team with financial flexibility doesn’t want to put forth a qualifying offer on a 20-something former MVP. But the cost of that outcome is a one-year $17.5M deal on a Cubs team not built to “win now.”
His injury isn’t shoulder related, it’s from getting cleated in Oakland breaking his fibula. He’s now healed and working on his weight distribution. Gonna crush in Chicago.
Releasing Heywood you take a hit. Signing Bellinger for 12M is a hit. UNLESS Cody decides to rework his swing. Never made any effort to make substantive changes no matter how much the Dodgers pleaded with him. Good luck Cubbies, I hope you enjoy a lot of swing and miss.
They wouldn’t fork over that kind of money if they didn’t think they could “fix” him offensively. They obviously did their research on him and feel like he can return to MVP form.
It’s still a coin flip, but a one year commitment makes it more palatable. Cubs definitely have the money to take calculated risks.
If it was a coin flip the Dodgers would have “fixed” him long ago. There will be no fixing Bellinger. The Cubs and all the bleacher bums know exactly what their getting and it ain’t MVP Bellinger.
They’re*
Dodgers were extremely patient with Bellinger. Remember that the injury was in October 2020. Two abysmal seasons with a lot of sample size since then. Dodgers were not going to easily give up on a former NL MVP.
Those that say it was the shoulder and that it’s a power issue are missing the point. His power is down but more importantly he has zero knowledge of balls and strikes right now as his K rate has ballooned and his BB rate is miniscule. It’s a matter of getting him to hit strikes and lay off balls. Very basic. Power concern is least of the concerns. An extra off-season “recovery” and shiftless infield is not going to cure his issues at the plate.
In hindsight I guess Dodgers could have tendered him and traded him to the cubs for a prospect. Too bad.
0 DRS last year.
Ridikerous
Cubbies got the 2019 MVP! You lucky ducks!
Alcantara PCA and Davis on way
I guess he’ll steal some of Chicago’s money now.
weed sales in Chicago are about to triple
Good wishes Cody!
Good, now Braves fans can stop hoping he comes to Atlanta.
Belli had the most violent swing I’ve ever seen. In my opinion, 2020 was the year his swing started to affect his back. Then he injured his shoulder celebrating during the 2020 postseason and we didn’t find out til the following spring that he messed up his shoulder pretty badly. The dude is so skinny, he doesn’t have the frame to sustain that violent swing (as opposed to Bryce Harper who also had a very violent swing but a sturdier frame). Plus now Harper does not swing nearly as violently.
Belli has value in the field and on the basepaths (much moreso than Harper) but he has to reinvent his swing. Otherwise he’s a 1-2 WAR player at best and his next contract might be a minor league one.
And so Boras needs to sit Bellinger down and explain to him in plain English that he’s gotten the 1-year overpay he was looking for, but if he wants any kind of length to the next one he needs to get his a$$ into Boras’ facility with a hitting guru and reinvent that jacked up swing that got him into this situation in the first place.
If they wanted an expensive who can’t hit, they could have kept Heyward.
white sox should do same to conforto. 1 yr deal overpay
In my opinion, the Blue Jays may have made some wise moves by not signing either Heaney or Bellinger, and here’s why. Let’s start off with Heaney, yes, we all know that he posted a career-best ERA of 3.10, as well as having one of the best swing-and-miss rates in all of baseball, but what people need to understand about Andrew Heaney is one thing – his lack of consistancy. In 2021, when he was with the Angels, his avg. ERA was around 4.51 with his final season with the team being a 5.83 ERA, With his career avg. ERA at 4.56 across 9 seasons. Add in the fact that Heaney is infamously being prone to giving up homers, it gives me the fact that he’s a gamble that’s just not worth the risk, especially for a team in win-now mode.
Now let’s talk about Cody Bellinger for a bit. I think we can all agree that it was almost like yesterday that Cody Bellinger was looking like the next big name in the sport; a 2x All Star, 2019 MVP, former Gold Glove, and a Silver Slugger to bout, it almost seem like he was on top of the world. But we all know the old saying, “Oh how the mighty have fallen”. For the last 3 seasons, his BA’s were .239, .165, and .210. Throw in a few trips to the IL, and he’s still yet to regain his MVP form since. Do I believe he can regain this form? “Yes”. Do I think it can happen on a 1-yr, $17.5MM deal? “Nope”. As a Jays fan, I understand the need for a CF and a LHH, but much like Heaney, it’s just too big of a gamble to roll the dice on.
Correct. They were only ever “interested” in Bellinger to replace Tapia, not Teoscar,, so they never had a chance which is fine. Heaney would only make sense as 5th starter, if they also got a 4th starter, so its fine as well. As you said, lots of risks and way too many holes to fill.
Wisdom – Bellinger – Franmil – Morel
This is lining up to be a strikeout pitchers dream scenario they swing for fences but produce a lot of wind most of the time.
Those four alone produce a ton of whiff power for multiple teams but they are in middle of cubs lineup
Franmil was non tendered.
Franmil may get a minor league deal but he is depth at most
Eh.
17.5 million is stupid money for Bellinger but the Cubs desperately needed him (and desperately need him to bounce back).
Now I fully expect the Cubs to land one of the premier shortstops and one more positional upgrade.
Nobody desperately needs Cody Bellinger
Good defender. He will run into a few mistakes. However, no one Cubs included is fixing Bellinger’s issues at the plate. Cubs have the kind of coin to sign him and they know what they are getting. Bellinger improves their OF defense.
No brainer move. Perfect roster fit, zero risk high reward. I love it.
Paid more than twice his expected dividends.
Its a 1 year deal so who cares? Not me. This isnt going to stop them from signing anybody else so it does not matter.
Tom? Tom Ricketts? Is that you?
Man the Cubs organization is a total mess right now. Holding on to guys too long, not trading Contreras at all and now this. Yikes.
They had a deal for Contreras nixed by Dusty and Crane.
Um, ok. Trade him somewhere else. Pretty simple really
Tell me what contender was looking for a catcher.
Rays — Acquired Bethancourt, more than one year of control.
Mariners — Acquired Casali, personal catcher for Castillo and backup to Raleigh.
Astros — Pivoted to Red Sox for Vazquez.
Mets — Passed. Sandy did not want to trade prospects after losing PCA for Baez the previous year. May have been a factor in the Mets not winning the division and losing bye to NLDS. Could have used Contreras at DH instead of Ruf, too.
I’ll take it. Worst case, it is only for 2023.
Jacody Ellsbllinger
Jacoby was decent in his first year with the Yanks. One year is all that Cody is signed for.
They’re the same player although Bellinger has accomplished more
Nice signing by the Cubbies. I didn’t think he would get that much but it makes sense for Bellinger. I actually wanted him in case Nimmo signed elsewhere.
Imagine how much he’d get if he didn’t suck.
Bellinger is gonna be even worse in Chicago than he was with the Dodgers, at least he may not be legally high for every game
Odds on that?
1/1
Few ballparks better than Wrigley to try to reestablish value offensively. Smart move for Bellinger
Large buyout on a one year deal with a mutual option? That’s a very strange structure. Mutual options are never triggered. So that makes it essentially a balloon payment. Makes me think Cubs are protecting themselves for some specific reason. Would love to see what’s in the small print of that contract.
Did Boras have a gun? Wow cubs, just Wow.
.jpg’s….lots …
“All I need is one dumb owner”
-Scott Boras
$17.5 M for a guy who hasn’t been able to hit a baseball for 2 years? To play baseball??
Another non-action to fill a need by Kim Ng.
We seriously couldn’t get him for 1 year at $17+ million? Really?
Only the weed suppliers in Miami benefit by the Marlins getting Bellinger.
A high Cody is better than a lot of our guys sober.
Soler will be good in 2023.
Soler isn’t our problem. We know he’s good for a bunch of HRs when he’s healthy. But we need the other pieces. And Soler can’t play CF.
Lol Cubs. He’s all they can afford.
Stands straight up in the box… zero bend at the knee. As the pitch comes in watch him & his head dip down. His eyes loose track of the ball causing more popups and swing & miss issues. He does not take instruction and is in a rut offensively. His swing needs less moving parts.
And… he sure looks like a stoner to me.
Anybody know if they’ve reported on what that mutual option is worth?
It’s rare that both sides pickup the option.
If I were to guess, the mutual option is valued at $17.5M which would make it a 2 year/$30M deal, but it really doesn’t matter as I don’t think any player or team has ever picked up a mutual option.
Hasn’t been good since the cheating scandal
It’s a gamble but could pay off. Probably a over pay but his defense in cf is worth a large chunk of his salary. Add in some pop and the chance of improvement it’s not a contract to get angry about.
Low risk, high reward potential for Cubbies. Good signing.
This is a 17-million-dollar gamble, to trade him for something they can use moving forward.
Exactly, there is no way they keep him if he bounces back. He’s guaranteed playing time on this dilapidated team. Whether it’s at 1st, CF, or DH he’ll be on the field. Even his last year was better than a majority of what the Cubs would field prior to the signing.
This signing is indicative of what the Cubs are going to be for the foreseeable future with ownership being deathly allergic to any sort of big-ticket contract. Last season there was a fan revolt and attendance fell to the lowest level in 25 years, but it doesn’t appear that ownership got the message. If they’re going to try to be the Marlins as a top 4 team in valuation the fans will start treating them as such or worse and will refuse to pay for the product they put forth.
I guess someone had to replace Heyward as the team’s $20 million 5th outfielder.
A Landmark signing indeeeeeeed!!
None of the Cubs signings so far have moved the needle on iota. Even if they do break down and sign Swanson, the Cubs would be unlikely to break .500 without several additional moves.
I’m betting Swanson is going to the Twins. The Cubs will be lucky to win 74 again at the rate they are going.
Lolll
He will probably hit well in the NL Central
Good money for being such a crappy hitter.
Cody is looking like the highlight Signing for the pathetic Cubs