The Chicago Cubs are spending more than any of their division rivals — seventh-most in MLB overall — but they sit at the bottom of the National League Central Division. After Friday’s games, 3.5 games out of the final wild-card spot, the Cubs can’t afford to make a tough decision about one of their star players.
Former MVP and Rookie of the Year Cody Bellinger is signed through 2026, but has two player options on his contract. If he chooses not to pursue his future with the Cubs, it would be the same as letting him go into free agency. It’s not clear whether he will do that, but he’s a popular trade target.
Bellinger has been injured twice this year. He’s batting .269/.331/.410 with nine home runs in 312 at-bats. While not the best of his career, it’s not far from the success he had last year when he batted .307 with 26 home runs in 499 at-bats and won his second Silver Slugger Award. He may be long past the MVP award, but his hitting can still make a big difference and he can play Gold Glove defense at first base and all three outfield positions (Bellinger won a Gold Glove, Silver Slugger and MVP awards in 2019).
In a recent ESPN MLB Insider article, the question was asked of who the biggest player to be traded before the trade deadline on July 30th, and Jesse Rogers said Bellinger could be the biggest player if the Cubs’ season continues to spiral out of control. As for a fit, Rogers said the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees would be the best fit if the Cubs continue to lose and decide to sell Bellinger, saying:
“The Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees could be interested in Bellinger for different reasons: Seattle can’t hit and New York is riddled with injuries,” Rodgers wrote. “The former MVP would be the biggest name in the room if he were to move somewhere…”
The portrayal Rodgers painted of these two teams is true. The Mariners have one of the worst offenses in MLB, with the 28th-best OPS. They’re likely to fall behind the on-the-ball Houston Astros soon, but the Mariners are atop the AL West. Their winning record is due in part to the stellar performances of their pitching staff this season. Bellinger could fit anywhere in the outfield, depending on whether the Mariners keep Julio Rodriguez in center field.
As for the Yankees, various injuries have hindered what was expected to be a dominant season. While waiting for the return of players like Giancarlo Stanton, a hitter like Bellinger would go a long way in helping the Yankees’ offense score runs. Bellinger could fill in for Alex Verdugo once the injured Yankees return. Verdugo had a great start in the pinstripes but has since fallen off drastically. Bellinger would be a better defensive player than Verdugo.
It’s not yet clear if the Cubs are willing to part ways with Bellinger, but if he becomes available, it might be wise for both the Yankees and Mariners to inquire about him.
