Cody Bellinger was one of the big free agents who were still without a contract after the start of Spring Training. The 28-year-old outfielder signed a three-year, $80 million contract with the Cubs.
Bellinger will stay with the Chicago Cubs, a team with which he had a rebound in his career and that earned him to be among the top 10 candidates for MVP of the National League.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Bellinger has the option to opt out of the contract after the first year. and then another in the second year. In 2024 she will receive $30 million dollars, $30 million in 2025 (if he decides not to opt out) and $20 million in 2026.
Cody Bellinger had a .307 batting average with 153 hits, 26 home runs, 97 RBIs and 95 runs scored in 130 games in 2023. He also won a Silver Slugger and the National League Comeback Player of the Year award.
Cody Bellinger, a sought-after free agent who was left with few options
Cody Bellinger was in free agency after the second best year of his entire career after declining the $25 million dollar option with the Cubs.
General managers objected that the price to pay for the left-handed outfielder was too high. and its possible interested parties changed, according to multiple reports. That’s why he waited until the first week of spring training.
No team has surpassed the $200 million mark in free agent spending, except for the Los Angeles Dodgers. who broke the record with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Teoscar Hernández and Shohei Ohtani.
The Cubs will have depth with outfielders such as Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, David Peralta, Cody Bellinger and Dominic Smith. The Chicago team hopes to arrive and fight for the Central Division pennant.
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