Chicago Cubs’ Cody Bellinger Pursuit Draws Doubts, as Prolonged Negotiations Continue With Preseason Near

With each passing day, things look murkier for Cody Bellinger and the Chicago Cubs. Despite there being a noted mutual interest, the stars just haven’t aligned for the two. Is it the asking price or something else? While one asks that question, the fact is that spring training is about to start. When are the Cubs ready to wait?

Waiting for the best deal is the specialty of Scott Boras, but the Cubs aren’t unknown to him. They had famously re-signed Dexter Fowler a week after spring training began in 2016. But that was a different time and a different circumstance. With over $200 million at stake, could the resolve of the Cubs be weakening?

Is the delay a bad signal for the Cody Bellinger-Chicago Cubs connection?

Seeing Scott Boras’ clients delay their deals has been a favorite pastime of many fans. The story is repeated so many times that one can predict what will happen next. Usually, the clients end up getting a massive deal; could it happen with Bellinger? It can. But The Athletic’s latest report has raised some doubts over a deal with the Cubs. “If the Cubs were such a likely favorite, they would have already signed Bellinger by now. If Bellinger was so enamored with Chicago, he could have simply instructed Boras to make a deal with Hoyer.”

It’s not new; many times genuine interest fails to materialize into a solid deal. This offseason has shown it, with many teams failing to get their primary targets. But the Cubs and Bellinger situation is different; last season, both of them excelled together. As a result, ever since the offseason began, they have been seen as an obvious match. But then, it hasn’t been smooth sailing.

While Bellinger and Boras are hoping for a deal that’s over $200 million, the Cubs are reluctant to pay that much. President Jed Hoyer’s objective to create a sustainable model has led to the Cubs recognizing the intrinsic risk of offering Bellinger a long-term contract. After all, the slugger struggled immensely between 2020 and 2022.

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This dilemma has continued until now, but now there’s a genuine risk of someone else swaying Bellinger.

The sudden competition could hurt the Cubbies

Famous insider Jeff Passan shared recently that he sees the Toronto Blue Jays as someone who needs Bellinger more than the Cubs. While this means that the Blue Jays have grown strong in their pursuit, does it also mean that the Cubs are okay with losing Bellinger? With manager Craig Counsell at the helm, the North Side’s roster doesn’t have many holes.

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However, it has been clear from the onset that the Cubs clubhouse adores Cody Bellinger. The players and fans are seemingly in unison with their calls to re-sign the slugger. So while there could be doubts over the Cubs possibly losing the bid, there’s little doubt over the love shared between them and Bellinger.