Former beloved Cub won't get Yankees revenge tour at Wrigley Field after all

The big storyline for the Chicago Cubs (and most of Major League Baseball) for the better part of the next week is the looming MLB trade deadline. But there's a pretty exciting weekend matchup on deck at Wrigley Field, with the New York Yankees coming to town for a three-game set.

But if you're looking forward to seeing some of the Yankees' big names, you're in for some serious disappointment. Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge remain sidelined and are now joined by former Cubs All-Star Cody Bellinger, who was placed on the 10-day IL over the weekend with a hamstring strain - dealing a further blow to an already short-handed New York lineup.

Bellinger, who signed a five-year, $162.5 million deal to stay with the Yankees this offseason, rewarded Brian Cashman's faith with an All-Star-caliber first half - his first Midsummer Classic appearance since 2019. On the year, the former MVP is slashing .259/.350/.420 and is already at 4.0 bWAR - a testament to just how important he's been to New York this season.

Regardless of how long Bellinger is sidelined, the injury puts added pressure on the Yankees' front office ahead of the deadline. Losing three of your biggest bats, even with the unexpected breakout from Ben Rice, is tough to overcome. New York remains within striking distance in the AL East, but a prolonged absence from Bellinger would clearly do them no favors.

Cubs fans still haven't forgotten the Cody Bellinger trade drama

There's no bad blood between Cubs fans and Bellinger, who won a Silver Slugger with the team during his NL Comeback Player of the Year campaign in 2023. But that doesn't mean a mention of his name doesn't elicit some strong emotions. Ahead of the 2025 season, Jed Hoyer traded him to the Yankees in what amounted to a pure salary dump - and the Cubs' failure to reinvest those savings or be aggressive at the trade deadline won't be soon forgotten.

For the 2026 Cubs, though, getting a Judge/Stanton/Bellinger-less Yankees is an ideal scenario as they look to maintain their hold on the top wild-card spot heading into August. Now, it's about capitalizing and not letting a prime opportunity slip through their fingers.

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