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The Chicago Cubs enter the 2023 season with a lot to prove after a lacklustre finish to the previous one.
Although the Cubs’ front staff appears to be taking the team’s contention window seriously, as evidenced by the removal of manager David Ross, new manager Craig Counsell can’t be the team’s biggest offseason addition.
Chicago dropped an ace. Marcus Stroman chose to forego the final year of his contract at the end of 2023, leaving them needing to fill a vital slot in their starting lineup. Additionally choosing to enter free agency was left-hander Cody Bellinger, who prioritised power in the batting lineup.
Although Chicago’s roster still has a lot of big names to choose from, the front office needs to get to work after losing out on Tyler Glasnow, Juan Soto, and Shohei Ohtani.
Can Cody Bellinger be Recalled by the Cubs?
Bellinger turned his career around with the Cubs last season after a lacklustre run with the Los Angeles Dodgers, emerging as an unexpected bright spot on an otherwise unimpressive offensive lineup. Is the NL Comeback Player of the Year going to re-sign for 2024 despite the evident efficacy of Chicago’s hitting coaches?
Bellinger slashed.307/.356/.525 with a career-high 20 stolen bases on a one-year, $17.5 million “prove-it” contract in 2023, ranking seventh in the NL in slugging and sixth in OPS (.881). With a Silver Slugger Award-winning season that included 26 home runs, 97 RBI, and 153 hits—his highest totals since 2019—it was hardly shocking that the 28-year-old refused the mutual option at the end of the season.
However, an agreement is not final until it is, therefore it makes sense for both sides to come to a new one.
Bellinger’s absence leaves Chicago’s batting lineup without a reliable first base option or nearly enough left-handed power. Bellinger may easily revert to his Dodgers-era mechanics in the absence of the Cubs, and he would have to fight to establish that he could hit water if he jumped out of a boat.
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