Chicago Cubs Rumors: Cody Bellinger's latest projected contract would be smart money

Cody Bellinger is going to be at the center of the Chicago Cubs' plans this off-season as there are very logical arguments to be made for why the team should want to bring back the former National League MVP on a long-term deal.

The issue is that Bellinger likely will not reach a decision on his next team early in the off-season. Bellinger is represented by Scott Boras and Boras typically waits the market out for his top clients while searching for the deal.

It will be interesting to see how Bellinger's market develops. Teams will need to determine whether Bellinger's success during the 2023 season is sustainable as there may be caution that he will revert back to the struggling offensive player that he was from 2020 through 2022.

The latest projection for Bellinger's next contract should be one that the Cubs jump at. The Athletic ran down the list (subscription required) of Major League Baseball's Top 40 free agents this off-season and Bellinger landed just outside the top five at No. 6.

What is most intriguing is that The Athletic projects Bellinger's next contract to be for six years at $144MM. If that is indeed what the price will be for Bellinger this winter, then that will be the easiest decision that Jed Hoyer will ever have to make in his time in charge of the Cubs' baseball operations.

The Cubs are going to have a ceiling for their offer to Bellinger this off-season but that will not come into question unless his market begins to exceed $200MM. With there being an expectation that Bellinger's next contract would be the largest in franchise history if signed by the Cubs, $144MM for six years would be great value for the team.

In addition to the Cubs, The Athletic mentions the Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Guardians, Toronto Blue Jays, and New York Yankees as teams that represent the best fit for Bellinger.

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