Cody Bellinger has had a rollercoaster career. From 2017 to 19, he was arguably the best player in the majors. During that stretch, he slashed .277/.367/.560 good for a 927 OPS with 111 home runs and 288 RBIs. He was a two-time all-star and took home the Rookie of the Year in 2017 and NL MVP in 2019. It seemed like the Dodgers had their next franchise icon. However, Bellinger’s career took a nosedive after the Covid shortened 2020 season. He was a shell of the player he once was and was non-tendered after the 2022 season.
The Cubs would take a shot on the former MVP, signing him to a one-year prove-it deal. This gamble paid off for the Cubs as Bellinger returned to his 2019 form. Earning him Comeback Player of the Year honors. It also earned him a three-year 80 million dollar deal from the Cubs with opt-out after the first and second years. Yet only one year into the deal, the Cubs are looking to trade Bellinger. So why do the Cubs want to move him and where could he go?
Why Do The Cubs Want To Move Bellinger
There are several reasons why the Cubs want to move on from Bellinger. For starters, his numbers had a massive falloff from 2023-2024. In 2023, he slashed .307/.356/.525 for a .881 OPS with 26 home runs, 97 RBIs, and 139 OPS+. Then in 2024, he slashed .266/.325/.426 for a .751 OPS with 18 home runs, 78 RBIs, and 111 OPS+. He regressed in every major offensive stat. With how his career has gone, it’s unknown if this was an outliner or a sign that he will continue to regress. The Cubs might want to move him while they can still get a good return.
The other reason is the Cubs have young talent at the position he played. Bellinger has split time between center field and first base for the majority of his career. However, those roles are filled by the Cubs. They have prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong in centerfield and Michael Busch at first base. These two have had decent starts to their career, and are expecting to take a major jump in 2025. Bellinger did play some games in right field, however, this isn’t a natural position for him. Instead of playing him out of position, they want to get a real right fielder and use Bellinger to address other issues.
Who Would Be Interested?
Although it makes sense why the Cubs want to move on from him, the better question is who would be interested? As mentioned before, Bellinger isn’t the most reliable player. He’s a streaky player who can either have an MVP-caliber season or be a fourth outfielder. So acquiring him would be a risk for whatever team.
New York Yankees
One of the best fits for Bellinger would be with the defending American League champions. The Yankees currently have a hole at first base. They also would benefit from having some outfield depth. Two holes Bellinger can fill well. Plus, if he doesn’t regress again he’ll provide much-needed depth to the Yankees lineup. One of the biggest problems is how reliant the Yankees are on only a couple of bats. Bellinger will stretch the lineup and provide protection for guys like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.
He also could be a backup option if they aren’t able to bring back Juan Soto. There is expected to be a major bidding war for Soto, with many teams interested. It’s unknown if the Yankees are going to be willing to give Soto the contract teams like the Mets will. Now Bellinger wouldn’t be the same type of player Soto, but he’ll be productive with the short porch in right.
Washington Nationals
This one might seem a bit of a long shot because the Nationals are still a year or two from being legitimate contenders. However, all signs indicate the Nationals are going to have a busy offseason. They’re going to be looking to add a veteran bat to the middle of the lineup. A perfect role for Bellinger. He will be the Nationals’ everyday first baseman, as well as be the main power threat in the lineup.
Bellinger could also emerge as a leader in the locker room. The Nationals have a lot of young players on the roster, as well as a deep farm ready to send players to the majors. Because of this, there is a lot of inexperience in the clubhouse. However, adding Bellinger would add the veteran experience this team needs. He can be a leader in the locker room and give the young players an idea of what a winning mindset is.
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