Chicago Cubs Rumors: Signs pointing to Cody Bellinger remaining with the team

The Chicago Cubs appear to be angling toward a long-term arrangement with center fielder Cody Bellinger.

That may not have been the original plan when the Cubs signed Bellinger to a one-year prove-it deal this past off-season. Bellinger was coming off two seasons in 2021 and 2022 where his offensive struggles were well-documented and the idea was that he would play a year with the Cubs with the chance that the team may flip the outfielder at the deadline.

As it turned out for the Cubs, they were buyers at the deadline, and the idea of moving Bellinger was never a real possibility despite the fact that the New York Yankees were willing to offer their top prospect.

Bellinger has returned to MVP form this season with the Cubs and it is clear that the team wants to keep him in Chicago for the long-term.

Look no further than the response that Cubs' president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer had when asked about the impact that Bellinger has had on the team.

Compare that to the responses that Hoyer had in regard to the previous core of Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, and Javier Baez when each player was angling toward a potential new deal with the team. Even with Marcus Stroman this season, Hoyer was very tight-lipped about what the future holds for the team and the starting pitcher. That was not the case with Bellinger as Hoyer could hold back his giddy when talking about Bellinger.

Even with the latest from Patrick Mooney in The Athletic, the sense of the Cubs and Bellinger reaching a long-term deal appears to be strong.

"This is lining up to be one of those Boras Corp. megadeals that makes you do a double take when you see the reported terms on your phone during the Winter Meetings. Of course, the Cubs already have the resources, the motivation and the relationships to get that done."

The Athletic

The Cubs have created a pathway for Bellinger to return to superstardom and that appears to be the reason why each side is interest in keeping the momentum going for the long-term.

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