Cubs have other priorities as Cody Bellinger takes obvious path back to Yankees

It can be easy to forget now, after three straight successful seasons, but when the Chicago Cubs originally signed Cody Bellinger, they were trying to resurrect an MVP's career.

Thanks to a litany of injuries suffered with the Dodgers after his legendary 2019 campaign, Bellinger simply lost his ability to perform like a star around the time of the pandemic. His 47 wRC+ in 2021 was awful, and his encore in 2022 (83 wRC+) earned him a one-way ticket out of Los Angeles.

Thus, the Cubs signed him, and they succeeded in reviving his stardom. A 10th-place MVP finish in 2023 earned him a new deal with the North Siders, though he didn't quite live up to expectations the following year.

When Kyle Tucker was brought in via trade, Bellinger was salary dumped onto the New York Yankees, and he once again got back to mashing (.272/.334/.480, 125 wRC+). Sure, some of that was thanks to the laughable dimensions of Yankee Stadium, but the outfielder had clearly returned to something resembling his peak form.

Like Andy Murray in tennis, Bellinger was somewhat of the fourth prong of a Big 3 in free agency this offseason behind Tucker, Bo Bichette, and Alex Bregman. He was always going to make money, but perhaps not as much as his contemporaries.

At least, that was the belief before the Yankees got so desperate that they came in with a jaw-dropping contract offer.

Cubs were right to prioritize Alex Bregman over Cody Bellinger in free agency

Bellinger's contract is shockingly similar to the one the Cubs gave Bregman; the length (five years) is the same, both players received full no-trade clauses, and their respective AAVs are only separated by a few million dollars. The big difference is that the Yankees gave their star opt-outs in the middle of his deal, whereas Bregman is tied to Chicago for the next half-decade.

Insofar as the Cubs had to "choose" between both players, they clearly made the right call. Bellinger may have more youth on his side, but Bregman plays a position of need, brings right-handed power to the table, and is a revered winner and clubhouse presence. Though rumors of a reunion were tantalizing, there's no question that Jed Hoyer and the front office prioritized the right player.

Plus, after giving Bregman his blockbuster contract, there was simply no way the Cubs were going to spend to that level for Bellinger. If they wanted to, they would have done so in previous offseasons when he was already a part of the team.

With a renewed interest in spending on the active roster, Chicago can better allocate their resources. Another starting pitcher (Zac Gallen, anyone?) would be a good use of short-term money, and there's always a need for reliable bullpen arms. And, if the Cubs really are looking to add another outfielder to the mix after losing Tucker and trading away Owen Caissie, they can sign someone like Harrison Bader to a much cheaper deal than what Bellinger got.

At a certain price point, there would have been some sense in a Cubs-Bellinger reunion. At $162 million, though, it's simply better to let the Yankees deal with an aging roster and exploding salary cap sheet.