Amidst Cubs’ Cody Bellinger Talks, Will the North Siders Strike a Balance Between Youth Development and Playoff Hopes?

The Chicago Cubs are in an enviable position right now as they’re filled with great prospects and a well-planned strategy. Despite a few tough years, they seemingly turned the page in 2023. But Cody Bellinger, one of the biggest reasons for that growth, isn’t with them anymore. While the North Siders have good prospects on their side, there’s a reason to believe that the Cubs still need Bellinger. 

Young players are prone to making mistakes. During such moments, a team needs a proven veteran to step up and guide them home. The Cubbies are no different. The presence of a veteran like Bellinger proved it last year. Perhaps that’s why it becomes imperative for the Cubs to find a way to fit in both seniors and youngsters in their team. But how can they?

Why Cody Bellinger is necessary for the North Siders

Despite going strong for much of last season, the Cubs crumbled a little by September. But one could take away a lot of positives from that season, as that was the first time since 2020 that the Cubbies had a winning record. However, as Cubs Beat’s Jordan Bastian wrote, the Cubs still have a lot of work to do.

For starters, there’s Pete Crow-Armstrong, their breakout rookie. After a string of phenomenal performances in minor leagues, Armstrong finally made his Major League debut in September. Now the Cubs believe that due to his great defensive acumen, Armstrong has the “makings of being a long-term fit in center.” However, this is where balance needs to be made.

Despite Armstrong showing strong signs of future success, he’s still just a 21-year-old. Completely depending on him would be risky both for the Cubs and for the growth of Armstrong. So adding a senior player like Bellinger can help lower the pressure on the young Cubs rookie.

As Bastian said, Pete Crow-Armstrong can “learn and hone his craft under the wings of one of the game’s top center fielders.” This will also improve their playoff chances as Bellinger will trigger a win-now mentality in the team. As a result, it becomes important for the Cubs to find a way to balance youth with veterans to maintain a long-term success.

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Chicago Cubs – Almost at the precipice of greatness

In MLB Pipeline’s top 100 prospects list, 7 are from the Cubs – the most in the league. Apart from this, they’ve signed players like Shota Imanaga on their side. Due to President Jed Hoyer’s prudence, the franchise has maintained control over its payroll. All of this means that the team is on the precipice of success. They have all the tools and necessary resources to grow in the future. 

But to connect the present to the future, they need an experienced hand like Cody Bellinger. Without proper guidance, it’s very easy for prospects to buckle under the pressure. So at least for the sake of their young players, bringing in Bellinger seems a reasonable thing to do.

Read more: MLB Updates: Cody Bellinger Set for a Short-Term Deal? Free Agency Revelations Emerge Amid Prolonged Talks