Cubs’ top trade candidate, according to MLB Network, comes as no surprise

With the MLB Winter Meetings just days away, the Juan Soto sweepstakes are expected to draw to a close sooner rather than later, with the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays vying for the superstar's services for the next decade-plus.

In an ideal world, the Chicago Cubs would be waiting for this process to end to find out whether they landed the five-time Silver Slugger. But we don't live in an ideal world. Still, how this goes down could directly impact the rest of the Cubs' offseason - especially if they actively look to trade Cody Bellinger, which is the wide-held expectation around the league.

It comes as no shock to anyone who's followed those Bellinger trade rumors over the last few weeks that MLB Network tabbed Bellinger as the Cubs' top potential trade candidate.

Bellinger turned the Cubs' offseason plans on their head when he opted into his $27.5 million player option for 2025 - locking up a considerable chunk of payroll and also severely hampering the front office's ability to shake up an offense that went through a months-long cold spell last summer. That all being said, simply dumping his salary as a cost-cutting measure won't improve this team.

The former Rookie of the Year and MVP does a lot of things well, including giving you above-average defense in the outfield and at first base. He showed during his NL Comeback Player of the Year campaign in 2023 that he can still bring a ton of value at the plate, as well. Although his numbers leveled off a bit and he was more 'good' than 'great' this year, he's far from a liability. The hard truth is the Cubs paid him for his 2023 production and he missed that mark in 2024.

If Chicago broke camp with Bellinger still in tow, I'd be surprised. But, if that's the case, he projects as the Cubs' everyday right fielder, pushing Seiya Suzuki and his defensive shortcomings into a full-time DH role in hopes that helps him tap into his offensive potential and maintain it over the course of an entire season - something he's yet to do in his MLB career.

Murmurs will become a bit louder with Bellinger in the weeks to come, especially once Soto comes off the board. Unloading his contract while also improving the team's standing heading into next year is a tall task, but it better be one Hoyer and the front office are up for.