The Chicago Cubs are overwhelmingly the favorite to land the free agent they’ve been connected to this entire offseason.
The Chicago Cubs still have room to make a big move before spring training begins next week. It doesn’t have to happen by then, of course, but Cubs faithful would love to see a certain outfielder return to the Windy City.
Cody Bellinger has been on the market since he declined the Cubs’ $20.325 million qualifying offer last year. Suitors have come and gone. Rumors have come and gone. But the constant in this process has been that the so-called experts have always believed that, at the end of the day, Bellinger would end up back in Chicago.
There is still a glut of big-time free agent talent on the market, including third baseman Matt Chapman, outfielders Jorge Soler and J.D. Martinez and two pitchers — Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery.
So, MLB.com asked its 43 writers and contributors to vote on where each of the six free-agents would end up in 2024.
They voted, overwhelmingly, that Bellinger would end up back in Chicago.
In fact, MLB.com wrote that 39 of the 43 votes for Bellinger were for the Cubs, and that the same staff voted the Cubs as Bellinger’s destination an offseason ago.
The other three teams that received votes were the Toronto Blue Jays, the San Francisco Giants and the Minnesota Twins.
So what is standing in the way? Money, likely. Earlier this offseason the New York Post’s salary projections noted that Bellinger, represented by Scott Boras, could land a deal anywhere from six to eight years in length that could reach a high of $240 million.
But that was close to the start of the offseason. Given how the market has developed, Bellinger may get less or a shorter contract duration, one that would allow him to test free agency again soon.
But the votes were clear. MLB writers expect Bellinger to be a Cub.
Bellinger was named a Silver Slugger and the NL Comeback Player of the Year after he slashed .307/.356/.525/.881 in 130 games with 26 home runs and 97 RBI in 2023, despite missing a month with an injury.
