The first domino to fall of the Chicago Cubs offseason will be Cody Bellinger’s contract decisions.
Bellinger has a $27MM player-option for the 2025 season, and while, in most cases, Scott Boras clients almost always elect free agency in these situations, the lack of power from the veteran outfielder last season has led some to speculate he may skip free agency with an eye of opting out his contract next offseason.
As the 2024 season drew to a close, it seemed that Bellinger’s decision was closer to a 50-50 split with a slight lean toward him returning to the Cubs in 2025. However, in recent weeks, speculation has shifted with some starting to feel that Bellinger will indeed test free agency.
That speculation was taken a step further on Wednesday when Jacob Zanolla of Ivy League Cubs reported that Bellinger is indeed leaning toward opting out of his current contract with the Cubs and testing free agency.
Momentum certainly seems to be in favor Bellinger looking for a new contract this offseason. If that is the case, it would seem likely that the Cubs would not be as motivated to bring back Bellinger this offseason as they were last offseason.
Cody Bellinger opting out of his contract gives the Cubs much-needed flexibility this offseason.
Bellinger opting out of his contract with the Cubs not only gives them an added $52.5MM in financial flexibility over the course of the next season but would give the team approximately $100MM in space this offseason before reaching the payroll levels they were at last season.
It’s an odd situation the Cubs are in with Bellinger. Bellinger, in general, is a good player, and the Cubs certainly wouldn’t complain if he was on their roster. But given the $27.5MM price tag, the Cubs would need Bellinger’s 2023 power numbers to return in 2025 or be forced with the same roster constraints they had this past season. But here is the catch to all of this, the Cubs can’t simply welcome Bellinger opting out because it creates a runway for Owen Caissie. Owen Caissie should be a factor on the Cubs’ Major League roster next season but he can’t be the primary factor of this offseason.
