Saturday night, the Chicago Cubs finally made the move that their fans had been waiting for all offseason.
Per ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the team reached a three-year agreement with free agent first baseman/centerfielder Cody Bellinger.
Bellinger spent 2023 with the Cubs after spending the first six seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 25, 2024
While Cubs fans are thrilled with the news of Bellinger’s return, fans are also questioning whether agent Scott Boras’ game of chicken spanning the entire offseason was worth it. Just like the still-unsigned Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, and Matt Chapman, Bellinger is repped by the notorious superagent, and it feels as though a three-year deal with multiple opt-outs isn’t exactly what Boras had in mind when free agency opened.
Fans had plenty to say on social media.
“Very excited to see Cody finish the story at Wrigley this summer.” One fan posted.
Very excited to see Cody finish the story at Wrigley this summer
— Bullpen Insider Jeff Everson (@EVR551) February 25, 2024
Another praised the deal, saying, “That is an incredible deal for the Cubs. Very low risk. Doesn’t block any prospects long-term. Bellinger also has opportunity to try his hand at free agency again in deal modeled similarly after Stroman’s.”
That is an incredible deal for the Cubs. Very low risk. Doesn’t block any prospects long-term. Bellinger also has opportunity to try his hand at free agency again in deal modeled similarly after Stroman’s. https://t.co/3ISnMiaTLW
— Greg Zumach (@IvyFutures) February 25, 2024
Another wasn’t so keen on what the contract meant for the sport overall, saying, “Sorry but if a team waits an entire offseason to re-sign their own player that they clearly needed back, there might be something a little wrong with the sport.”
Sorry but if a team waits an entire offseason to re-sign their own player that they clearly needed back, there might be something a little wrong with the sport. https://t.co/GcnaMyDJH8
— Jordan (@FRESHticles) February 25, 2024
Another landed somewhere in the middle, saying, “I feel kinda bad for Bellinger because in theory he did what he was supposed to do to get a long term mega deal (be not too old and have a great contract year) but everyone’s too smart now”
I feel kinda bad for Bellinger because in theory he did what he was supposed to do to get a long term mega deal (be not too old and have a great contract year) but everyone’s too smart now https://t.co/WenbH1jBb5
— Ben Zobrist fan (@RandylandSZN) February 25, 2024
