Chicago Cubs Rumors: Did Cody Bellinger signal goodbye for good?

Chicago Cubs free agent center fielder Cody Bellinger is in a position to be one of the most sought-after free agents on the market this winter and teams such as the New York Yankees are already circling with interest.

Bellinger quickly became a fan favorite among Cubs' fans at Wrigley Field this season and that would be the reason why many are hoping for a return in 2024.

While the future is unknown, Bellinger did take time out of his day on Wednesday to say thank you to the fans who grew fond of him this past season.

After just missing the post-season, the Cubs are entering an off-season where the expectation is for them to make the leap from being a good team during the 2023 season to being a great team entering the 2024 season. If Bellinger is not brought back, the leap that the Cubs need to take may grow in distance considering the former National League MVP was a focal point of their offense for most of the season.

Bellinger's Instagram post on Wednesday added to the belief that the Cubs' chances of bringing back the veteran outfielder on a long-term deal may not be as likely as indicated initially after the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline.

While the Cubs will have close to $100MM coming off the books this off-season and have provided an indication that they would be willing to enter the luxury tax, the idea of Bellinger getting a contract that matches some of the top free-agent deals from last winter will likely have the team looking elsewhere. That doesn't mean that the Cubs won't be aggressive as the stars align for the team to pursue a trade of Juan Soto and given Soto's age, that would seem to be a player that the team's front office is interested in signing to a lucrative long-term extension.

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