The Chicago Cubs and outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger reportedly agreed to a three-year, $80 million contract Sunday.
ESPN's Jeff Passan reported the deal will carry a $30 million salary in 2024 and 2025, along with a $20 million base in 2026. Bellinger will be able to opt out of the deal following the first two seasons and re-enter free agency if he chooses.
The contract takes Chicago's Opening Day payroll to a projected $218 million, which ranks seventh in Major League Baseball. Bellinger will be the Cubs' highest-paid player on their 2024 roster.
Here is a look at how Chicago's lineup should shake out after bringing back Bellinger:
1. Mike Tauchman, CF
2. Nico Hoerner, 2B
3. Ian Happ, LF
4. Cody Bellinger, 1B
5. Seiya Suzuki, RF
6. Dansby Swanson, SS
7. Christoper Morel, DH
8. Yan Gomes, C
9. Nick Madrigal, 3B
Bellinger signed a one-year contract with the Cubs last offseason after being non-tendered by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He hit .307/.356/.525 with 26 home runs and 97 runs batted in, earning a Silver Slugger selection.
The 2019 National League MVP, Bellinger saw his career take a nosedive over a three-year stretch from 2020 to 2022. He slashed .203/.272/.376 with 41 home runs and 134 runs batted in over that stretch. For comparison, Bellinger hit 47 home runs and drove in 115 runs during his 2019 MVP season alone.
While last season helped revive Bellinger's value around baseball, his extended free agency should be evidence that not every team is buying his revival. Bellinger had the lowest average exit velocity and lowest barrel percentage of his career last season. One could argue he was closer to being lucky in 2023 than actually turning things around.
Returning to the Cubs was always the likeliest outcome, and this deal isn't bad for either side. Bellinger could wind up taking himself back out on the open market next offseason if his breakout continues. If he regresses back into one of the worst players in baseball, the Cubs are a sturdy enough franchise to eat the $50 million remaining on his contract in 2025 and 2026.
Chicago's front office avoiding lavishing Bellinger with a massive six-figure contract should be lauded—even if the team gave up power in the process.
