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Kyle Tucker is making Chicago Cubs fans forget about the fact that the Cubs traded Cody Bellinger as a pure salary dump this offseason.
Sure, the Cubs did not reallocate the money owed to Bellinger to a different area of their roster, but Bellinger's offense hasn't just been replaced; it's been upgraded in the Cubs' starting lineup, with Tucker proving that he is already among the favorites to be the National League MVP.
Bellinger and the Yankees have been at the center of the torpedo bat drama surrounding Major League Baseball this season. However, it hasn't really helped Bellinger's production with the Yankees.
Entering Tuesday's game against the Detroit Tigers, Bellinger is slashing .233/.278/.333/68wRC+ with 1 home run. Bellinger won't have the chance to improve upon those numbers on Tuesday night as he has been scratched from the game.
Cody Bellinger out Tuesday after "eating bad wings."
— Underdog MLB (@UnderdogMLB) April 8, 2025
Cody Bellinger's latest update will have Chicago Cubs fans chuckling
We certainly hope Bellinger feels better soon but given the memes that have circled his career, the idea of the former National League MVP getting sick after eating wings does have an added layer of humor.
While we're on the subject of Bellinger, I just wanted to issue another reminder that his reputation does not match the current level of production. Even with the Cubs last season, Bellinger posted 109wRC+ with a 2.2 fWAR. In other words, Bellinger was an above-average player but isn't someone that is going to be missed on the Cubs roster.
Again, the Cubs should have used the savings from trading Bellinger on the Major League roster this season, and perhaps they will at the Trade Deadline, but we aren't losing sleep over the idea that the former Comeback Player of the Year is no longer here.
Along those lines, putting Bellinger at first base was never a logical argument for the Cubs in 2025. Michael Busch was knocking on the door of being in the top tier of National League first basemen last season, and the early returns in 2025 have been even better. Busch is carrying a 139wRC+ through the early weeks of the season.