The famous Chicago Cubs star Cody Bellinger was standing calmly in the first inning of a game against the St. Louis Cardinals on a normal July day in the city. This image, captured in a picture by Associated Press photographer Erin Hooley, was a typical Major League Baseball (MLB) game. However, the image concealed a more profound story about Bellinger’s future with the Cubs.

Bellinger won the coveted NL Comeback Player of the Year award in 2023 thanks to an exceptionally impressive season. Jed Hoyer, the president of the Chicago Cubs, expressed his desire to keep Bellinger around for the 2024 season after seeing his comeback. The player’s future with the franchise is still up in the air, though, as Bellinger is reportedly looking for a big contract that will pay more than $200 million.

It appears more likely that Bellinger will rejoin the Cubs, despite interest from other teams. He is a great asset because of his defensive versatility and fit with the team’s dynamic. Many of his teammates share this opinion, most notably standout shortstop Dansby Swanson, who has stated in the open that he wants the Cubs to re-sign Bellinger.

Bellinger’s future with the North Siders was questioned by Chicago Sun-Times reporter Maddie Lee on the Cubs Talk Podcast post-convention. The conversation covered everything from Shota Imanaga’s pitching toolkit to possible modifications in the major leagues. The topic of possible trade talks between the Cubs and Guardians regarding Emmanuel Clase and Craig Counsell’s managerial style in the Chicago dugout also strayed from the main topic of discussion.

The Chicago Cubs are under increasing pressure as they work through their free agency negotiations with Bellinger. The Cubs are in a difficult situation because of the player’s good season with the team and the players’ and fans’ strong desire for him to re-sign. It is still unclear if the Cubs will agree to pay Bellinger’s supposedly $200 million asking price. The Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners are two organisations who could try to entice Bellinger to leave Chicago. The Cubs’ prospects seem to be improving the longer the talks go on. The final decision about Bellinger’s signing location is still up in the air.

Salman Khan is the renowned International Sports Correspondent for BNN. He uses his experience and ICC qualification to produce in-depth reporting related to the sports industry. He has noteworthy experience reporting major events, such as the Asia Cup in 2022 and the World Cup in 2019. His dedication to sports journalism is evident in the numerous honours he has received for his exceptional work, including the 2021 Emerging Star Award. Salman is a vital member of BNN’s sports journalism team since he uses his extensive knowledge of and enthusiasm for sports to provide a distinctive and interesting viewpoint in his stories.