While it hasn’t been ruled out that he would return to the organization, it’s unlikely the Cubs would be able to compete in a bidding war against teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees. If that is the case, they should turn to Cody Bellinger and bring him back to the team.

For the Yankees this season, Bellinger slashed .272/.334/.480 this season 29 home runs, 98 RBI and 5.0 bWAR. For the 30-year-old outfielder, it was one of the best offensive seasons of his playing tenure. He finished with the third-most home runs of his career and second-most RBI.

Chicago could get many of the same benefits it had with Bellinger in right field as with Tucker. However, Bellinger is more versatile in the field and could help make lineup decisions a little less complicated for manager Craig Counsell.

The Cubs know they have to find a way to fill the void Tucker will leave. He’s not a player that can be replaced easily, and it may even take more than just Bellinger or one other player to fill his shoes. However, bringing back a player who hit 26 home runs and 97 RBI as a member of the Cubs two seasons ago would be a great place to start.

Spotrac is projecting Bellinger’s contract to be a six-year deal worth $182.7 million, an average of $30.4 million per year. The price tag may seem steep, but it is a small price to pay compared to Tucker’s expected contract. The Cubs will have to pay up for a premium bat (or multiple) this offseason, it’s just a matter of which direction the organization chooses to go to get there.

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