A Cody Bellinger reunion makes a ton of sense after the Edward Cabrera trade

The Chicago Cubs have come out of hibernation, reportedly pulling off a blockbuster trade with the Miami Marlins. The Cubs get their long-sought high-upside starting pitcher in Edward Cabrera, with multiple top prospects, including outfielder Owen Caissie, going the other way in the deal.

From here, it feels like the path is clear to sign one of the remaining big free agent bats, the most commonly mentioned being Alex Bregman and Bo Bichette. But with Caissie no longer on the depth chart and Seiya Suzuki projected as your full-time right-fielder, with Moises Ballesteros handling DH duties as a rookie, a reunion with Cody Bellinger suddenly doesn't seem so crazy.

The idea has been floated this winter, but given the Cubs' roster construction before the Cabrera trade, the fit wasn't anywhere close to perfect. But two-thirds of Chicago's starting outfield will be free agents at the end of 2026 (Suzuki and Ian Happ) and Bellinger not only could be a long-term answer there, but offer a quality backup to Michael Busch at first.

Cubs have to go add a big bat to offset the loss of Kyle Tucker

I wouldn't necessarily say he's the best fit of the remaining big-name free agents, but he's at least in the conversation now - and that wasn't the case yesterday. Obviously, there's no shortage of familiarity between Bellinger and the Cubs, which doesn't hurt things but whether it's him or another top target, Chicago has to replace the loss of Kyle Tucker.

It wasn't a perfect platform season for King Tuck in 2025, but he was an absolute juggernaut when healthy. The Cubs cruised in the first half, riding his All-Star first half to a 57-39 mark heading into the break. Down the stretch, trips to the IL and also attempting to play at less than 100 percent really impacted his performance, but the point was clear: as Tucker went, so went the Cubs.

Bellinger could be the everyday starter in right, covering Pete Crow-Armstrong and Michael Busch when they need days off, with Suzuki backing up Bellinger in right and also splitting DH reps with Ballesteros. With multiple offers on the table from the Yankees, the Cubs might have to move quickly if this is the route they want to pursue to address the team's biggest remaining need this winter.