After a long, excruciating off-season battle with Scott Boras, Jed Hoyer finally got his guy. The Cubs have their solution at 1st base and the power left-handed bat they desperately needed. Bellinger was the catalyst in the Cubs lineup last year and brought the juice every day. He seems like the ultimate clubhouse guy and between that and his elite on-field play, the Cubs are a better baseball team today than they were yesterday and Vegas now has them at 25-1 to win the WS down from 30-1.
The Deal: 3-Year, $80 million contract that includes opt-outs after each year. Salaries of $30M, $30M and $20M.
The deal is perfect. It makes them the division favorites and allows them to have a playoff push this year without blocking any prospects in the future.
In case you forgot how good Cody Bellinger was last year, numbers above and all 26 bombs below. He finished in the top 10 in MVP voting and was a legitimate dark horse in June.
The lineup is actually dangerous now and here's what the opening day lineup could look like.*
2B - Nico Hoerner
SS - Dansby Swanson
1B - Cody Bellinger
LF - Ian Happ
DH - Christopher Morel
RF - Seiya Suzuki
CF - Pete Crow-Armstrong
3B - Michael Busch
C - Yan Gomes
Rotation:
Justin Steele
Shota Imanaga
Jameson Taillon
Kyle Hendricks
Jordan Wicks
Closers: Hector Neris + Adbert Alzolay
*PCA might start in Iowa but even if he does, he won't be down there for too long so I have him in this opening day lineup
2024 Season Preview to come shortly. I still think the Cubs could have a move left in them but if this is the team we go into battle with, I'm happy with it.