Cubs sign Cody Bellinger to three-year deal |
Belli's back!
The Chicago Cubs have agreed to a three-year deal worth $80 million with star slugger Cody Bellinger on Sunday morning. The deal is pending a physical and has not been confirmed yet by the Cubs. There are opt-outs in the contract after the first ($30 mil) and second years ($30 mil) for Bellinger which is a similar contract that Carlos Correa signed with the Twins a few years ago. His contract will bring the Cubs Opening Day payroll to a projected $218 million, which ranks seventh in Major League Baseball. In 130 games with the Cubs last season, Bellinger hit .307 with 26 homers and 97 RBIs which earned him National League Comeback Player of the Year and 10th in the MVP voting. Bellinger will be able to play centerfield and help out at first base for the Northsiders. Jed Hoyer stood his ground against super agent Scott Boras and got Bellinger for a decent price that allows the Cubs some flexibility financially the next few years. “I’ve said, dozens of times I think at this point, I have nothing but admiration for him,” Hoyer said recently about Bellinger. Boras was asking north of $200 million for Bellinger early in the offseason. BREAKING: Centerfielder Cody Bellinger and the Chicago Cubs are in agreement on a three-year, $80 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Bellinger will receive opt-outs after each of the first two years of the deal. Bellinger, 28, returns to the Cubs after a prolonged free agency. Cody Bellinger and the Cubs have agreed to a 3-year deal, per reports. pic.twitter.com/D3c1dWUMIv Cubs, OF Cody Bellinger reportedly agree to deal, per multiple reports including @MLBNetwork insider @JonHeyman. pic.twitter.com/5w0CLhdtpe Just a great deal for the Cubs. Gives them a chance to compete this year while keeping things flexible in future years as their highly touted farm system produces ML players. This was literally the only way he returns...A long, drawn out process where short term wins out. https://t.co/j6EEIwrgEi Give Jed Hoyer a ton of credit. He held his ground, didn’t listen to all of us freaking out that he hadn’t done enough and he got his guy at basically his price. #TakeThat Just woke up; did I miss something? That boy Belli . Now we are rolling.. How I feel at 4:35 AM after reading the Cody Bellinger is back news!!!! pic.twitter.com/1QhH4WoHKC “The Chicago Cubs have signed Cody Bellinger” pic.twitter.com/OBdKDCMyvh "In the National League Central, this is a MAJOR move... you have the Cubs bringing back their best player in a division that is certainly wide open."@jonmorosi breaks down Cody Bellinger's reported return to the Chicago Cubs. pic.twitter.com/qma6WHhZSM "It really is a win-win for both sides."@amartinez_11 and @Taylor_McGregor on the Cubs’ reported deal with Cody Bellinger. “He’s one of us.”
— Jameson Taillon (@JTaillon50) February 25, 2024
Kyle Hendricks on Cody Bellinger. pic.twitter.com/on3hOHxvkN
