Cubs’ Cody Bellinger Reunion in Trouble? Angels and Blue Jays Links Heat Up Amid Free Agency Buzz

Forget designated hitters; this offseason’s hottest free-agency battle is brewing in center field. Cody Bellinger, the 2019 NL MVP, is back in the spotlight after a stellar comeback season with the Chicago Cubs. Cody Love’s bat is like a sizzling Chicago hotdog on a scorching summer day, and teams are lining up like frosty mugs at a Red Sox game, desperate for a sip of his sweet swing.

But with the Los Angeles Angels and the Toronto Blue Jays now circling the slugger like sharks smelling chum, are the Cubs facing a ninth-inning strikeout in their Bellinger bid?

Buzzer beater in Chi-Town? Cody Bellinger’s landing spot heats up

Chicago remains the hot favorite, according to MLB insiders like Jon Heyman. The familiarity factor is strong, and Wrigley Field needs a new slugger to serenade the bleachers. Remember Bellinger’s record home runs and that shocking hitting average last season? That’s the Windy City magic the Cubs crave. But across the California sun, the Angels are stirring.

Losing Shohei Ohtani left a crater in their lineup, and Cody Bellinger’s bat is mighty tempting for the Halos. Plus, Arte Moreno, the Angels’ owner, loves his everyday players. And hey, who wouldn’t want Bellinger and Mike Trout flanking each other in the outfield? Talk about a dream team-up! Then there’s the Blue Jays, baseball’s new darlings.

FanNation says that they might have missed out on Juan Soto, but Bellinger could be the consolation prize (and a pretty sweet one at that). Jays fans dream of him launching moon shots over the Rogers Centre walls, a new chapter in a rivalry with the Bronx Bombers that just got spicy. So, where does that leave the Cubbies?

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While Chicago still holds the pole position, the competition is heating up faster than sizzlers on a grill. The Angels offer sunshine and Trout, while the Blue Jays promise maple syrup and Soto-revenge. It’s a three-way dance, and Bellinger has the spotlight. Who will win his heart (and bat)?

Cubs hold pole position despite heating rivalry

Sure, Cody Bellinger’s $250 million payday dream is yet to cool down (per FanNation), leaving him like a November tourist on Michigan Avenue. But Spring Training’s approaching, and reunion whispers are swirling on the North Side. “We know the Cubs love Cody,” says insider Jon Morosi, indicating how he loved Chicago as well. Right now, they have as good a chance as anyone to snag him.

Why the optimism? Familiarity breeds comfort, and Wrigley bleachers crave Bellinger’s 26 homers, 97 RBIs, and that sweet .307 average. He’s not just a bat; he’s a Chicago heartbeat. More importantly, the competition’s lukewarm. No one’s shelling out mega-millions, and Bellinger’s stock might be rising faster than Lake Michigan in July.

True, the Angels and the Blue Jays are circling, lured by his Silver Slugger and MVP-caliber 2023. But Toronto’s outfield’s already crowded, and the Angels’ pockets might be reserved for a certain two-way phenom named Trout. (Sorry, Arte!)

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But money talks. Can Thomas Ricketts loosen the team’s purse strings and offer a deal that respects talent and fits their budget? Tick-tock, Cubs. The clock’s ticking, and the heat’s rising faster than a deep dish in a brick oven. Pony up, or risk losing your slugger and the chance to reignite 2019 magic. Let’s make Wrigley great again, one Bellinger blast at a time.