Chicago Cubs

Cody Bellinger is back with the Chicago Cubs, and fan excitement is through the roof.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Bellinger signed a three-year, $80 million contract Sunday. The deal carries $30 million salaries for 2024 and 2025, along with a $20 million base in 2026. Bellinger will be able to opt out following the 2024 or 2025 season.

Given many expected Bellinger to land a nine-figure contract, the fan enthusiasm was through the roof.

Bellinger hit .307/.356/.525 with 26 home runs and 97 runs batted in last season, re-emerging as one of the best outfielders in the National League. The performance was a complete about-face from the Bellinger who spent three years as one of the worst everyday players in baseball from 2020 to 2022.

Bellinger hit .203/.272/.376 with 41 home runs and 134 runs batted across 295 games during those seasons, a sudden nosedive after he won the 2019 NL MVP.

The Cubs closed the 2023 regular season at 83-79 after a hot end to the campaign, sparked in large part by Bellinger. While the Cubs still have holes in their lineup, Bellinger's return—especially at such a relatively small price—could spark hope of return to the playoffs. Chicago has not made the postseason since the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign as the franchise continues to attempt a retool.

While it's unclear whether Bellinger will maintain his performance level from last season, fans seem overjoyed by his return.

The Chicago Cubs are the betting favorites to win the National League Central after agreeing to a deal to secure the return of Silver Slugger winner Cody Bellinger.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Bellinger will sign for $80 million over three years with opt-outs after each of the first two years.

Chicago is now +180 at DraftKings Sportsbook to claim the division, narrowly edging out the St. Louis Cardinals (+185). The Cubs also have the fourth-best odds of winning the NL pennant (+1400) and are +2500 to go all the way and lift a World Series title.

The Milwaukee Brewers won the NL Central by nine games in 2023, but the division could be much more of a crap shoot in 2024. In FanGraphs' projected standings, just four wins separate the Cardinals in first place from the Cincinnati Reds in fourth.

From that perspective, installing Chicago as the favorite makes sense.

Calling the Cubs the fourth favorites for the pennant is a little deceiving because there's such a wide gulf between the Los Angeles Dodgers (+170) and Atlanta Braves (+255) and then everyone else.

In general, the Cubbies are a somewhat risky bet because they're not dramatically different from the team that won 83 games and missed the playoffs.

Japanese starting pitcher Shōta Imanaga is their biggest outside addition so far, and he's likely to be a solid middle-of-the-rotation option rather than the game-changing ace compatriot Yoshinobu Yamamoto projects as.

And for as much as Bellinger helps to shore up the middle of the lineup, the fact he remained unsigned until late February speaks to the general uncertainty about his value moving forward. Maybe the 28-year-old is an elite hitter again after his production cratered in 2021 and 2022, or his 2023 bounce-back could be a bit of a mirage.

If Bellinger regresses, it will have a major impact on the Cubs offense.

Chicago should be in the thick of the NL Central race. Anything beyond that is tough to envision.

For all the latest betting information and reaction, check out B/R Betting.

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Sometimes it's ESPN's Jeff Passan nailing the MLB scoops. Others, Jon Heyman of the New York Post is first on the beat. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal can never be discounted.

And every once in a blue moon, it's a woman named Lisa.

Passan acknowledged a fan named Lisa Dubbs had the scoop on Cody Bellinger signing with the Chicago Cubs before any major reporter.

The Cubs signed Bellinger to a three-year, $80 million contract Sunday, according to Passan. The deal calls for Bellinger to make $30 million in 2024 and another $30 million in 2025, along with a $20 million salary in 2026. He will have the option to opt out of his contract after the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

Bellinger revived his value last season in Chicago, hitting .307/.356/.525 with 26 home runs and 97 runs batted in while earning a Silver Slugger selection. It marked a surprising return to form after Bellinger slashed .203/.272/.376 with 41 home runs and 134 runs batted during a horrid three-year stretch from 2020 to 2022.

Those numbers were a far cry from Bellinger's 2019 MVP season, which saw him hit 47 home runs and drive in 115 runs.

The Cubs were able to sign Bellinger on a relative discount this offseason after he hung out on the open market far longer than expected. Most believed Bellinger would wind up landing a nine-figure contract as teams desperate for a bat banked on his return to form carrying over into 2024.

Instead, Bellinger languished without a deal into spring training, leading to the Lisa-reported compromise confirmed by Passan on Sunday.

The Chicago Cubs and outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger reportedly agreed to a three-year, $80 million contract Sunday.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported the deal will carry a $30 million salary in 2024 and 2025, along with a $20 million base in 2026. Bellinger will be able to opt out of the deal following the first two seasons and re-enter free agency if he chooses.

The contract takes Chicago's Opening Day payroll to a projected $218 million, which ranks seventh in Major League Baseball. Bellinger will be the Cubs' highest-paid player on their 2024 roster.

Here is a look at how Chicago's lineup should shake out after bringing back Bellinger:

1. Mike Tauchman, CF

2. Nico Hoerner, 2B

3. Ian Happ, LF

4. Cody Bellinger, 1B

5. Seiya Suzuki, RF

6. Dansby Swanson, SS

7. Christoper Morel, DH

8. Yan Gomes, C

9. Nick Madrigal, 3B

Bellinger signed a one-year contract with the Cubs last offseason after being non-tendered by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He hit .307/.356/.525 with 26 home runs and 97 runs batted in, earning a Silver Slugger selection.

The 2019 National League MVP, Bellinger saw his career take a nosedive over a three-year stretch from 2020 to 2022. He slashed .203/.272/.376 with 41 home runs and 134 runs batted in over that stretch. For comparison, Bellinger hit 47 home runs and drove in 115 runs during his 2019 MVP season alone.

While last season helped revive Bellinger's value around baseball, his extended free agency should be evidence that not every team is buying his revival. Bellinger had the lowest average exit velocity and lowest barrel percentage of his career last season. One could argue he was closer to being lucky in 2023 than actually turning things around.

Returning to the Cubs was always the likeliest outcome, and this deal isn't bad for either side. Bellinger could wind up taking himself back out on the open market next offseason if his breakout continues. If he regresses back into one of the worst players in baseball, the Cubs are a sturdy enough franchise to eat the $50 million remaining on his contract in 2025 and 2026.

Chicago's front office avoiding lavishing Bellinger with a massive six-figure contract should be lauded—even if the team gave up power in the process.

Cody Bellinger's plan to rebuild his value during the 2023 season and cash in as a free agent paid off in a big way, though it may have taken longer than expected to get done.

Per Jeff Passan of ESPN, the two-time All-Star has agreed to a three-year, $80 million deal to return to the Chicago Cubs after he declined a mutual option to test the open market. The deal calls for Bellinger to earn a $30 million salary in 2024 and 2025, along with a $20 million salary in 2026. He will have opt outs in his contract after each of the first two years.

Bellinger could have returned to the Chicago Cubs on a one-year deal worth $20.3 million after they extended him the qualifying offer, but there was virtually no chance he would accept that after his performance last season.

The Cubs don't appear to be messing around after missing the playoffs in each of the past three seasons. They started the offseason in stunning fashion when they fired David Ross as manager to hire Craig Counsell and make him the highest-paid skipper in MLB.

With Bellinger coming off two injury-plagued seasons in 2021 and 2022, the Los Angeles Dodgers elected to non-tender him rather than potentially pay him in excess of $20 million through arbitration.

It was a steep and dramatic fall for Bellinger, who was named 2019 NL MVP and hit the go-ahead homer in the seventh inning of Game 7 against the Atlanta Braves in the 2020 NLCS to send the Dodgers to the World Series.

In a cruel bit of irony, Bellinger's problems were largely a product of that homer. He injured his shoulder during the celebration by doing the forearm smash with Enrique Hernandez after crossing the plate.

The Dodgers announced Bellinger had shoulder surgery, and he was expected to be ready for the start of spring training during the 2021 season.

After hitting .193/.256/.355 with 29 homers, 104 RBI and 17 stolen bases in 239 games over the next two seasons, the Dodgers parted ways with Bellinger. He signed a one-year, $17.5 million deal with the Cubs that also included a mutual option for 2024.

Bellinger turned out to be one of the best free-agent signings for any team last offseason. He hit .307/.356/.525 with 26 homers, 97 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 130 games.

Among players with at least 550 plate appearances, Bellinger finished 21st in the NL with 4.1 FanGraphs wins above replacement. He's a rarity as a defender because of his ability to play in center field or first base.

The offensive bar for first baseman is very high, but Bellinger has shown at his best he's got the ability to clear it.

Durability remains a big concern for Bellinger. He missed one month last season because of a knee injury.

The Cubs reaped the benefits of Bellinger's bounce-back performance and are betting big on it continuing. It's a reasonable wager since he will play most of this season at the age of 28.

The pitching behind Justin Steele is going to be the biggest question mark for the Cubs in 2024. Shōta Imanaga has impressed early in camp, but there could be an adjustment period for him as he gets acclimated to MLB hitters.

Jameson Taillon will be counted on to have a rebound season. Cade Horton, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 draft, could be in the big leagues at some point in 2024.

Keeping Bellinger makes all the sense in the world for Chicago because the team will need to score runs if it wants to compete for a playoff spot this season. He's still in his prime and will be for several more seasons. This is an improving roster with Pete Crow-Armstrong likely to play his first full season in the big leagues alongside Seiya Suzuki, Dansby Swanson and Ian Happ.

Free-agent outfielder David Peralta agreed to a contract with the Chicago Cubs on Monday, per FanSided's Robert Murray. ESPN's Jesse Rogers reported that it's a minor league deal.

The New York Post's Jon Heyman reported that the Cubs are also picking up first baseman Dominic Smith on a minor league deal and have extended him an MLB camp invite.

Peralta, an 11-year veteran, spent last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, hitting .259 and notching 102 hits and seven home runs.

Smith, who spent last season with the Washington Nationals, hit .254, recording 134 hits and 12 home runs.

Peralta underwent offseason forearm surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon, so he will likely rehab in the minors and join the major league roster once he makes a full recovery.

The deal comes amid the Cubs' interest in resigning free-agent outfielder Cody Bellinger. Team owner Tom Ricketts said, per Rogers, that they are "waiting" for the star's side to engage in talks.

"I'm like everyone else," Ricketts said. "We're just waiting. Waiting for whenever he and his agent are going to engage. It could be any time now or it could be in a few weeks. We'll see where it goes."

In his first year with the Cubs last season, Bellinger hit a career-high .307, notching 153 hits and 26 home runs on his way to earning the league's Comeback Player of the Year Award. Following the end of the season, Bellinger declined a $25 million option for 2024 to test the market, and the seventh-year player is still waiting as spring training nears.

The Cubs are coming off an 83-79 campaign that saw them miss the postseason for a third straight year, though they hope to end that streak in 2024.

Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts told reporters on Monday that the team hasn't moved past the talking stage with free-agent star Cody Bellinger, who had a fantastic season with the Cubbies in 2023.

"There's been some discussions but it hasn't become a negotiation yet," he said.

Ricketts told reporters that negotiations could commence "anytime now, or it could be a few weeks."

He added that he won't get involved in talks with Bellinger's agent, Scott Boras, because it has the potential to "undermine the credibility of your general manager. And so inserting yourself into that negotiation, I don't think that helps. So I don't talk to him."

Instead, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer will handle any potential negotiations.

An eventual reunion between the two sides makes sense. Bellinger, 28, hit .307 with 26 homers, 97 RBI, 95 runs, 20 stolen bases and a .881 OPS. It was his most homers, RBI and runs—and his best OPS—since he won the NL MVP in 2019. It was also the most stolen bases and the best batting average of his career.

He was absurd in the second half of the season, hitting 19 homers between July and September.

The Cubs haven't rested on their laurels this offseason, bringing aboard manager Craig Counsell in a $40 million signing. But it's been a quieter winter for the roster, with the signings of starting pitcher Shota Imanaga and reliever Hector Neris the only major player additions thus far.

That has hinted at a roster plan built on promoting from within, given the team's talented farm system. It could even affect Bellinger's chances of getting a huge deal in Chicago, as Pete Crow-Armstrong is probably the team's long-term plan for centerfield.

"We have a lot of young players and some young veteran players that I think have a chance to take real steps forward," Hoyer told reporters earlier in February. "The most exciting thing for me is I think we have a deep roster. And we have a deep roster of players that have a chance to continue to get better. I think that gives me a lot of hope that we can accomplish this year what we couldn't last year."

Still, Bellinger was the centerpiece of the team's offense last season, and getting him back would be huge in the short term for a Cubs team that came oh-so-close to reaching the postseason in 2023.

For now, however, the two sides seem content to play the waiting game.

The Chicago Cubs are reportedly the "most likely landing spot" for free-agent outfielder Cody Bellinger.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported Bellinger is not close to choosing a destination as he continues to search for the right offer on the open market.

Bellinger spent the 2023 season with the Cubs, re-emerging as one of the best outfielders in the sport. The 2019 NL MVP hit .307/.356/.525 with 26 home runs and 97 runs batted in and earned his second Silver Slugger selection.

The performance was a complete turnaround from a rough three-year stretch for Bellinger, who slashed a dreadful .203/.272/.376 in 295 games from 2020 to 2022.

His free agency has been prolonged in large part as a result of those three years. From 2017 to 2019, Bellinger looked like a superstar in the making and potential cornerstone of the Dodgers franchise. From 2020 to 2022, he was one of the worst everyday players in baseball.

The 2023 season was something of a middle ground, but it's hard to figure out where Bellinger stands—particularly with a nine-figure contract hanging in the balance. His hard hit percentage, barrel rate and average exit velocity were all concerningly low, and Bellinger doesn't walk enough to justify his power regression if he's not hitting for a high average.

There's a decent chance Bellinger's contract winds up looking like an albatross if teams aren't careful.

A return to Chicago would provide him with a park where he excelled and an organization that took a chance on him when few would last offseason.

Baseball Hall of Famer and Chicago Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg announced on Monday that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Sandberg said in his statement that he has already begun undergoing treatment and he "will continue to be positive, strong, and fight to beat this."

Sandberg spent 15 of his 16 major league seasons with the Cubs and put together a stellar career. The former second baseman was named to 10 consecutive All-Star Games from 1984 to 1993 and he won nine straight Gold Glove Awards from 1983 to 1991. He owns the record for most Silver Slugger Awards by a second baseman with seven.

Sandberg's best season came in 1984 when he batted .314 with 19 home runs, 84 RBI, 114 runs and 200 hits on his way to being named National League MVP, the first Cubs player to win the award since Ernie Banks went back-to-back in 1958 and 1959. He led the Cubs to an NL East title that year, their first title of any kind since their NL Pennant in 1945.

Sandberg was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the 2005 class. That same year, the Cubs retired his No. 23, making him the fourth player in team history to receive the honor.

The 64-year-old most recently served as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies after being promoted from third base coach midway through the 2013 season. Sandberg served in the position until his resignation during the 2015 campaign.