{"id":11247,"date":"2024-11-22T11:21:51","date_gmt":"2024-11-22T11:21:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=11247"},"modified":"2024-11-22T11:21:51","modified_gmt":"2024-11-22T11:21:51","slug":"mlb-rumors-cubs-want-to-trade-cody-bellinger-but-theres-a-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=11247","title":{"rendered":"MLB rumors: Cubs want to trade Cody Bellinger, but there&#8217;s a problem"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>The Chicago Cubs are reportedly exploring the possibility of trading Cody Bellinger, but rival executives believe it won\u2019t be an easy task. While Bellinger\u2019s offensive and defensive abilities make him a valuable player, his financial situation and recent performance create significant obstacles to a potential deal.<\/p>\n<p>After a stellar 2023 season in which Bellinger posted an OPS 39% above league average, the former MVP opted to stay with the Cubs rather than test free agency. By doing so, he secured $32.5 million in guaranteed money, which includes a $27.5 million salary for 2025 and a $5 million buyout if he chooses not to opt into the 2026 season for another $27.5 million.<\/p>\n<p>While executives often say there\u2019s no such thing as a bad one-year deal, Bellinger\u2019s contract isn\u2019t necessarily a straightforward short-term commitment. Teams interested in trading for him must consider the financial implications and the potential for him to opt into 2026.<\/p>\n<p>Bellinger\u2019s 2023 performance set high expectations, but his 2024 season declined. Although he was still 11% above league average in OPS, his offensive production wasn\u2019t as impactful. This dip in performance likely played a role in his decision to stay with the Cubs rather than risk a weaker free-agent market.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>The Cubs will have to hold on to Bellinger unless they find a suitor to eat his contract<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3133223\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3133223\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.clutchpoints.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Cody-Bellinger.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp.clutchpoints.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Cody-Bellinger.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/wp.clutchpoints.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Cody-Bellinger.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/wp.clutchpoints.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Cody-Bellinger.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/wp.clutchpoints.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Cody-Bellinger.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/wp.clutchpoints.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Cody-Bellinger.jpg?resize=150,84 150w\" alt=\"MLB rumors: Cubs want to trade Cody Bellinger, but there's a problem\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3133223\">Kyle Ross-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Cubs face a unique challenge in assessing Bellinger\u2019s trade value. He could command significant interest at his best, but the combination of his $32.5 million price tag and his less-dominant 2024 season mitigates the potential return.<\/p>\n<p>The Yankees, for instance, have shown interest in Bellinger in the past partly due to the connection with his father, Clay Bellinger, who played for them from 1999 to 2001.<\/p>\n<p>If the Yankees fail to land Juan Soto or another marquee outfielder, Bellinger could emerge as a fallback option. However, his salary would likely require the Cubs to accept either an inflated contract in return or settle for marginal prospects.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Related Chicago Cubs NewsArticle continues below<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The broader market further complicates Bellinger\u2019s trade prospects. Teams that might pursue him are likely the same ones involved in the Juan Soto sweepstakes, making it difficult for the Cubs to gauge interest. Additionally, free agents like Anthony Santander and Tyler O\u2019Neill present alternative options for teams seeking outfield help.<\/p>\n<p>For now, Bellinger is in a holding pattern, with his trade market hinging on what happens with bigger names like Soto. Any team considering a deal for Bellinger will need to balance his potential upside with his contract\u2019s financial risks.<\/p>\n<p>If the Cubs can find a creative way to move Bellinger, it could open opportunities to address other roster needs, particularly in pitching, which remains their top priority this offseason. However, unless a team emerges willing to absorb Bellinger\u2019s contract without significant concessions, the Cubs might find themselves holding onto their first baseman\/outfielder for at least another season.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the Cubs gear up for what they hope to be a big offseason, the team wants to trade Cody Bellinger after a down 2024 year, but they cannot.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":11250,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[104,48],"class_list":["post-11247","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb","tag-cody-bellinger","tag-mlb-rumors"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>MLB rumors: Cubs want to trade Cody Bellinger, but there&#039;s a problem - 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