The Chicago Cubs are reportedly telling teams that outfielder Cody Bellinger is not available for trade.
ESPN reports that the Cubs’ eight-game winning streak, which ended Sunday, has changed the team’s strategy, and the club will not be sellers before Tuesday’s trade deadline.
Bellinger, the 2019 NL MVP, had been viewed as a prime trade piece for Chicago. He will become a free agent after the season, and has enjoyed a bounce-back year at the plate after struggling mightily with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2021 and 2022.
The Dodgers, in fact, had been seen as one of the most likely landing spots for Bellinger. The New York Yankees and Miami Marlins had also been in the conversation.
It’s a bold move for the Cubs, who are four games out of first place in the NL Central and 3.5 games out of a Wild Card spot. The Cubs are now reportedly looking to add bullpen depth before the deadline to fuel their run.
MLB fans on Twitter generally thought the Cubs have made a mistake in thinking they are serious contenders.
Cubs foolishly got sucked into thinking they’re contenders when they could’ve got prospects for a guy who is 100% opting out next year. It’s the leagues fault for being so average this year not their fault for dreaming big
— GetWetSports (@GetWetSports) July 30, 2023
The win of today is the Cubs moving Cody Bellinger off the trade block. Anyone who doesn’t like this has a losers mentality. Meaningful games in September is what matters for this season. Better prospects debuting in ‘24 and lots of money to spend this winter.
— Cody Delmendo (@Cody_CHGO) July 30, 2023
“Cody Bellinger would fix this” – delusional yankee fans
— John (@J0hn_IA) July 30, 2023
8 game winning streak from a fringe WC team causes team not to trade their biggest trade piece. Nice.
— Nicholas Bailey (@Mottslayer) July 30, 2023
Great to see. Hopefully the Cubs can stay hot. They have to play Braves 6x, Dbacks 7x, and Brewers 6x. Going to be tough but if they add some nice pieces anything can happen.
— Christian Hickey (@ChrisySoSweet) July 30, 2023
I’m of the mind that if they’re going to forgo the Cody Bellinger haul, they should really go big for this year and acquire an impact player with 1.5+ years of control
— Tyler (@RunningFlannel) July 30, 2023
[ESPN]
