The Chicago Cubs are still dragging their feet with Cody Bellinger. Here’s why.
With the end of January and the start of Spring Training rapidly approaching, the awkward dance between Cody Bellinger and the Chicago Cubs continues.
Both sides like each other and would like to reunite, but neither one appears willing to budge at the negotiating table.
MLB insiders have been predicting for months that Bellinger will re-sign with the Cubs, so why hasn’t it happened yet?
One reason is the price, which has been widely reported.
Bellinger and his agent, Scott Boras, are seeking a deal over $200 million. That’s a big commitment, obviously, especially for a player with a spotty track record like Bellinger.
Chicago wants his price to come down, but that hasn’t happened yet.
On Thursday, MLB insider Jon Morosi revealed another factor that could be preventing a deal.
In an interview with MLB Network, Morosi pointed out that the Cubs may not want to splurge on Bellinger and potentially block one of its top prospects.
“Part of the Cubs’ willingness to pay is linked to their confidence in young Pete Crow-Armstrong and their belief that he can potentially impact their team enduringly as an everyday center fielder,” Morosi said.
Crow-Armstrong, 21, was a first-round pick in 2020 and is the team’s No. 1 prospect according to MLB Pipeline. He struggled during his cup of coffee last year, however, failing to record a hit in 13 games as a pinch-hitter and runner.
Crow-Armstrong clearly has a lot of potential based on his strong minor league numbers (.301/.376/.515 slash line), but that’s all he is right now. Potential.
Bellinger, on the other hand, is a proven star.
He’s won a Rookie of the Year, an MVP award and a World Series. He’s also still relatively young at 28, so he should still have several more good years in front of him.
Chicago shouldn’t let Crow-Armstrong stop them from signing Bellinger.
If anything, Bellinger’s ability to play center makes him the perfect insurance policy if the star prospect doesn’t pan out.
In the meantime, Bellinger can man first base with Michael Busch backing him up.
If Bellinger was in his thirties, going with the rookie would make more sense. But they shouldn’t pass up on a star in his prime for an unproven youngster.
