MLB insider offers his prediction on Cody Bellinger's looming opt-out decision

Don't look now, but Cody Bellinger has gotten hot at a perfect time for the Chicago Cubs, putting up an OPS north of 1.000 since returning from the IL on July 30.

That's aligned with the team's recent surge, pulling them to within three games of the third and final wild-card spot in the National League and one game under .500 for the first time in two months. Chicago's postseason chances still sit at below 10 percent, but there's no doubting we've seen much improved baseball from Craig Counsell's team in recent weeks.

Bellinger's torrid pace at the dish not only impacts the team's long-shot postseason hopes, but will be a deciding factor in how Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins approach the offseason. If he turns it on for the final two months and buoys his numbers, an opt-out feels like a near-certainty. But if you ask The Athletic's Jim Bowden (subscription required), regardless, Bellinger is headed for another foray into free agency.

Cody Bellinger could set himself up for a major payday this winter

Cubs fans undoubtedly remember last winter's dance with Bellinger and super-agent Scott Boras. It lasted well into the offseason, with the two sides finally coming to terms on a new deal in late February. A three-year pact with opt-outs after both the 2024 and 2025 campaigns gave Bellinger the chance to show that his bounceback season a year ago was no fluke and the shorter length prevented the Cubs from being handcuffed long-term, a win-win for both sides.

A broken finger on his left hand and his unique contract structure kept Chicago from being able to really shop him leading up to the trade deadline, although rumors suggested the Cubs were still fielding calls on the former Rookie of the Year and MVP.

The deal carries a $27.5 million salary in 2025 and $25 million in 2026 meaning if Bellinger opts out, Hoyer's war chest will look dramatically different and could help the Cubs swim in the deep end of the pool in free agency instead of being active more around the edges. This is a huge story to watch as the season winds down because the implications of how he closes out the year will impact the team for years to come.