The Cubs have activated Cody Bellinger from the 10-day injured list, according to multiple reporters. Bellinger has been on the IL since July 11 after he was hit by a Cionel Perez pitch, resulting in a fracture in his left middle finger. Fortunately for Bellinger and the Cubs, the injury hasn’t proven to be too serious, and Bellinger has been taking part in baseball activities.
The activation comes as a bit of a surprise due to the immediacy, as manager Craig Counsell told reporters (including Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune) earlier today that Bellinger would return in a few days’ time. However, Bellinger apparently looked so good in his hitting progression that the club feels comfortable in activating him in time for today’s game with the Reds. Counsell recently suggested that Bellinger could return as a DH at first, as he was feeling comfortable hitting but was still having some issues throwing (Bellinger is left-handed).
Bellinger has hit .269/.331/.410 with nine home runs over 344 plate appearances this season, and he missed a couple of weeks due to a rib fracture earlier this year in addition to his just-completed IL stint. While Bellinger’s 108 wRC+ is above average, it is well below the 134 wRC+ he posted in 2023, and not what the Cubs were expecting when he was re-signed to a three-year, $80MM free agent deal last winter.
Since Bellinger can opt out of that contract after the season, he’ll have two more months to post some bigger numbers and build a better platform for another foray into the free agent market. If Bellinger decides to just stay with Chicago, he can also opt out following the 2025 campaign, giving him some extra flexibility down the road as he considers his long-term future. Between this contractual uncertainty, his recent injury absence, and his just-okay numbers, Bellinger is probably unlikely to be dealt by a Chicago team that has been doing more adding than subtracting in advance of tomorrow’s trade deadline.
They want to hurry up and get him out there in hope of trading him.
“Hope of trading him”…Most years Cody is either slightly above average or slightly below average, hardly worth the $250M+/10 year+ contract he was seeking just last year.
He’ll never see that contract mlb. Even though his numbers were very good last year, I was skeptical cuz of his negative statcast page. And sure enough, he hasn’t been as good this year. But at least he’s rebounded from those last couple of simply awful years with the Dodgers!
Kind of does feel like an audition…
He’s not going anywhere. Nobody wants that option next year.
Urgency to get him in before trade deadline… prove some health for a new home. Mariners here he goes…
He’s not even in the lineup tonight.
They are playing him tonight to showcase him for offers ….
He isn’t starting tonight
Proof of life for an unlikely trade
great name! Steve Finley is the oldest cf to win a GG other than Willie Mays
Thanks! My favorite Padre when I was a kid (besides Tony, of course)
Less than 24 hours to the deadline
Trade coming up
Come to Papa
I will again lobby the Pirates to go get him from the Cubs. I know he’s potentially owed a ton of money and that’s reasons 1-35 the Pirates won’t make a deal, but he would fit in nicely at any of the positions he’s capable of playing.
Money player for Mariners
I doubt anyone will take on that contract. He isn’t hitting the market after the season he is having.
Too bad they traded for Paredes his offense will totally drop off in Chicago
You wish.
Moneyball. Cubs will be alright. Sucks for now.
He is one of the handful of quality players the pirates should go for. Don’t know how it would work out contract wise but player wise makes some sense.
I’d be surprised if Belli is traded. The offensive numbers certainly don’t jump out and that contract is not really desirable. But you never know. The White Sox were able to trade Lance Lynn at last season’s deadline. Lynn led the league at that time in home runs allowed and had an ERA over 6. But he didn’t carry that type on contract.
How exciting, think I’ll eat cheese crackers in bed tonight.
He won’t be opting.