58 days remain until the Cubs play their first Spring Training game. (If you’re keeping track, this Friday is eight weeks from now.)
And so the oddball dance between the Cubs and Cody Bellinger continues.
It becomes obvious that Bellinger and the Cubs are a wonderful fit, considering other clubs’ additions and the team’s requirements. Fans seemed to love having him on the team, and he has already had one successful season on the North Side.
We’re not sure if Jed Hoyer or Scott Boras is impeding the project. Some have stated that Bellinger is seeking a $300 million contract, but I doubt any team is still interested in his skills and would be willing to give him that much in total.
Bellinger was valued at $264 million and 12 years old by MLB Trade Rumours. That sounds like a pretty low AAV of $22 million. I said on this site last month that a deal like that may genuinely benefit the team and the player, but it hasn’t worked out as of yet.
Why not offer him a shorter-term, higher AAV contract with opt-out clauses?
To put it another way: $220 million for eight years, with a two-year opt-out. Bellinger’s AAV would be $27.5 million for 2024 and 2025 as a result. Should he have two outstanding years, he could return to free agency at age 30 (he turned 28 in July) and maybe earn more money in the long run. Alternatively, he would have six more years of financial stability if the years weren’t too good—which is, of course, hoped to be at least good.
Bellinger and the Cubs appear to be a terrific match. With a deal like this, who says no?
