There is no contract with Cody Bellinger. The most recent information and speculations regarding the 2019 NL MVP are being tracked by MLB.com.
20 January: ‘Widespread confidence’ that Bellinger will rejoin the Cubs
Bellinger has been linked to a number of teams this offseason, including the Mariners, Blue Jays, and Giants. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, however, claims that there is “widespread belief within the industry” that Bellinger will return to the Cubs, but “only if/when his asking price comes down.”
With Bellinger’s impressive comeback season in 2023 after three disappointing years at the plate, the Cubs and the former NL MVP were undoubtedly a nice fit. Following a.648 OPS from 2020–22, Bellinger hit.307/.356/.525 with 26 home runs and 20 steals. In close proximity to
December 27: How far up are the Blue Jays in the Belli market?
Along with the defending Cubs, the Blue Jays have been seen as favorites to sign Bellinger after losing out on Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. But with Kevin Kiermaier returning to Toronto, one has to ask if Bellinger is still a good fit for the organization. On Tuesday, a source informed Mark Feinsand of MLB.com that the Blue Jays and Kiermaier have agreed on a $10.5 million, one-year contract.
After that, the Blue Jays agreed to a two-year contract on Wednesday with utility guy Isiah Kiner-Falefa, another position player.
It’s true that Toronto is still in need of a left-handed hitter, and Bob Nightengale of USA Today has heard that the organization is still considering Bellinger. Though Bellinger is reportedly demanding more than $200 million, it’s difficult to envision the Jays reaching his asking price given that they already have Kiermaier and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. covering center field and first base, respectively.
In the Bellinger market, a trade between the Blue Jays and Kiermaier may give the Cubs the upper hand. Chicago now needs and wants to sign him more than Toronto does, as Nightengale points out.
How probable are the Giants to sign Bellinger on December 27?
The Korean center fielder Jung Hoo Lee was signed by the Giants on December 14 for a six-year, $113 million contract, marking their first major offseason acquisition. However, MLB Network insider Jon Heyman said on Wednesday that San Francisco may still be looking to improve their offense. If so, is Belli going to be appearing near the bay?
Don’t discount it. The San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser noted on MLB Network on Tuesday that the Giants seem to have “decent interest” in Bellinger, in addition to having the financial capacity to sign him.
Slusser remarked, “They obviously have a lot of money to spend.”
Heyman claims that the Giants are “big-game hunting,” expressing interest in Bellinger as well as pitcher Blake Snell and third baseman Matt Chapman. A trade for Bellinger is most likely off the table if San Francisco signs both Snell and Chapman, but Slusser thinks the Giants might still be able to pursue the 2019 National League MVP if they sign one of the two.
As for the Giants, Slusser stated, “I think they should really, really pursue that strongly because suddenly that outfield looks like one of the best around. I think the Cubs probably have the upper hand there.”
Heyman also believed that Bellinger would be signed by the incumbent Cubs rather than the Giants, but the Angels were still a possibility. However, San Francisco seems to be involved.
December 19: Are the Blue Jays now Bellinger’s front-runners?
According to MLB Network source Jon Heyman’s report last week, Bellinger’s “likeliest” teams were the Cubs and Blue Jays. Is it feasible that the favorite is now one of those teams?
MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand examined the five most important inquiries regarding Bellinger’s market in his most recent piece. The Cubs and Blue Jays are the two favored teams, according to Heyman’s reporting, which Feinsand repeated, although the Blue Jays “feel like the favorites.”
Similarly, Toronto was “the team to watch” in the Bellinger sweepstakes, according to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi’s report on Tuesday. On December 17, Bob Nightengale of USA Today also stated that Toronto had “emerged as the favorite” for Bellinger.
The Blue Jays made a strong bid in their fruitless attempt to sign Shohei Ohtani, as Feinsand and Morosi pointed out, indicating a willingness to shell out a sizable sum of money to get a quality player this winter. The Blue Jays might be among the teams to sign Bellinger to a hefty deal, as reports from Heyman and Feinsand indicate that he is apparently looking for a deal worth more than $200 million.
The Blue Jays, who require an impact left-handed bat in the middle of their lineup, are a prime fit for the player. More significantly, the Blue Jays have Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. under club control as they begin their last two seasons. For the Blue Jays, who have qualified for the playoffs every season and in three of the previous four, this simply heightens the pressure. They haven’t won a postseason game since 2016.
Dec. 17: Are the Blue Jays and Cubs the victors in the Bellinger sweepstakes?
This offseason, Bellinger has been linked to a number of organizations, including the Giants, Yankees, Mariners, and Padres. However, with Christmas approaching, there could only be two strong candidates left to sign.
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