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The ‘Worst Kept Secret’ in Baseball at GM Meetings: A Chicago Cubs Star
Originally published on SI on the Chicago Cubs
Published by Kenneth Teape on November 26, 2024

The Chicago Cubs had no say in the most important move they made this summer.

Cody Bellinger had to decide on his player option after returning to the team last winter with a three-year, $80 million contract.

His decision, which was valued at $27.5 million, would affect the Cubs’ offseason.

Rather of reentering the market, he chose to opt into the contract by exercising the option.

Chicago’s ownership has tightened expenditure controls as a result, as agents are becoming increasingly impatient with their lack of effort.

There was much conjecture that the team hoped he would turn down the offer and go back to free agency. They clearly needed Bellinger in the lineup when he signed the original contract, but as the 2024 season progressed, it became clear that they didn’t need him as much as they had initially believed.

Michael Busch had a great season as an everyday player at first base, and Pete Crow-Armstrong became a dependable everyday option in center field.

Bellinger’s status within the organization has been complicated by the fact that he played the most at those two positions.

In addition, if he had turned down his player option, a significant amount of money would have been removed from the salary cap, allowing them to spend it elsewhere and take care of other obligations.

You can still relocate that money.

The former MVP may be the focus of a trade that the Cubs consider.

The “worst-kept secret” in the sport, according to MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today, is that the organization wants to sell him.

The Cubs’ decision to make Bellinger available to everyone was the worst-kept secret during the GM meetings. No team has shown a lot of interest thus far,” he stated.

Even though he performed well in 2024, he was unable to match the 2023 stats that earned him the multi-year contract.

However, his contract serves as a significant barrier to trade negotiations.

One general manager said through Nightengale, “Come on, who’s going to touch that contract? The production simply cannot afford the risk.

Other teams have good reason to be concerned.

However, depending on how much of the salary Chicago swallows, teams would have to give up one or more assets in order to acquire Bellinger. In most cases, they would be better off investing money in free agency to sign a player because all that costs is cash.

He will earn $1.5 million more in 2025 than Bryce Harper, a star for the Philadelphia Phillies.

If he chooses to opt out of his 2026 contract, he will at least receive $32.5 million through 2025 thanks to a $5 million buyout.

He will make $25 million in 2026 if he chooses to participate, which would put him at $52.5 million for the next two years.

Many teams won’t be willing to make that kind of commitment because trade negotiations may take a long time.

The New York Yankees are one club to watch.

As a backup plan in case Juan Soto leaves them in free agency this offseason, they have reportedly set their sights on Bellinger.