Cubs Rumors: Cody Bellinger is off the trade-block
The Chicago Cubs have been playing marvelous baseball over the last few weeks. A huge winning streak and good vibes have turned the entire mood of the franchise around.
A team that once looked like sellers is now on track to possibly be buyers ahead of Tuesday’s MLB Trade Deadline. It will be interesting to see how that goes.
The Cubs also have some good trade assets themselves but now they might be hesitant to move them. On Sunday, we learned that Cody Bellinger is unlikely to be traded.
This comes from Jesse Rodgers of ESPN as he reported it online earlier on Sunday. This is huge news as all of the contenders can cross off an elite bat as a possible trade deadline acquisition.
The Chicago Cubs are going to keep Cody Bellinger for the 2023 season.
This can't come a shock at this point. Amazing, the team made it an easier decision than anyone could have guessed (I assume). Sources: Cubs tell teams Bellinger won't be dealt https://t.co/wavoECw6Bh
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) July 30, 2023
Bellinger was borderline bad when he was finishing up his tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He looked very different from the MVP player that he was a few years prior.
Since coming to Chicago, however, he has changed up his entire image by simply playing much better. His glove in the outfield has been amazing and he has also played some other positions which makes him a valuable asset.
His bat, on the other hand, is what needed the most improvement. It has been MVP caliber again and that is what made him so attractive on the trade market. Imagine adding a player like him for your playoff run.
Clearly, the Cubs believe they can go on a little bit of a run and give themselves a chance to make the playoffs.
Not making this trade could also help the Cubs in other ways. For one, not trading him would make it much easier to get him locked in on a long-term deal.
The second reason is that other free agents might realize that the Cubs are good and worthy of signing with. If they traded Bellinger and sold off again, it might send a bad message to future players considering Chicago’s north side team.
This isn’t the news that we thought we’d be getting a few weeks ago but winning can cure a lot of things. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out in the long run.
Related Story. These three trade packages bring Shohei Ohtani to Chicago. light