Cubs News: A head-scratching Cody Bellinger report; Nico Hoerner's defensive value

The Chicago Cubs have Carter Hawkins in the Clark the Cub costume twirling a 'Cody Bellinger Must Go' sign on the corner of Clark and Addison. OK, not really, but that's the vibe coming out of Wrigley Field on the heels of the GM Meetings, where they were offering the former Rookie of the Year and MVP to 'anyone and everyone' - and received little interest in return.

Multiple reports have confirmed the Cubs are actively shopping Bellinger and his $27.5 million salary for 2025 - but a swap of bad contracts seems the likeliest (and perhaps only) way Jed Hoyer moves him before Opening Day. But as these rumors continue to percolate, one man stands defiantly in their way: Jim Bowden of The Athletic.

In Bowden's Nov. 25 column, he addresses a variety of mailbag trade scenarios submitted by readers - two will be of particular note to Cubs fans.

Cubs' Cody Bellinger saga continues as conflicting reports emerge

First, he outright denies Chicago is shopping Bellinger, saying they "are not trying to move Bellinger," but that is "not going to stop them from listening to interested teams." That's hard to believe given all the smoke from other prominent writers. For what it's worth, I hope he's right and the Cubs aren't looking to dump Bellinger just to save money. But all signs suggest that's the case right now.

But I think the second scenario, in which a reader suggests the Cubs packaging Bellinger with Nico Hoerner in a trade with the Braves, and Bowden's assessment of Hoerner, is what really irked me. When evaluating the defensive fit, he singles out the Gold Glover saying he "is not good enough defensively to play shortstop for Atlanta."

That's a ridiculous claim.

Prior to the Cubs signing Dansby Swanson, Hoerner manned shortstop for the Cubs in 2022 - and he excelled in every measurable way: his Fielding Run Value graded out in the 93rd percentile and his 13 Outs Above Average ranked in the top two percent of players and third overall among all big-league shortstops that season.

But, OK. Sure, Jim. Whatever you need to tell yourself. You might be able to poke some holes in Hoerner's game - but the one area he's never come up short on is his defense. Suggesting any team wouldn't value his glovework at shortstop (or second, for that matter) is nothing short of laughable.