The Chicago Cubs have some tough questions to answer. The team is coming off of a season that saw them miss playoffs by just one game. For other teams, this would’ve triggered a spending spree, but the Cubbies are different. In fact, they’ve stalled the talks with the one player for whom they could’ve spent big – Cody Bellinger. Maybe this is strict negotiation or confidence in their current roster.

While Cody Bellinger did propel the Cubs to the next level last season, it can’t be forgotten that other players blossomed as well. President Jed Hoyer had been working diligently to create a winning team, and 2023 proved to be the closest he came to having one. Perhaps that’s why, despite there being a risk of losing Bellinger, the Cubbies don’t look flustered.

The strong line of Cody Bellinger backups for the Chicago Cubs

One tends to forget that Bellinger was never a part of the long-term plans of the Cubs. It was just that the stars aligned and the North Siders got a bargain deal for the former MVP. So obviously, the Cubs had been steadily building up their roster every season. According to a report by The Athletic, in Bellinger’s absence, it all comes down to Seiya Suzuki and other hitters in the lineup. “The Cubs need Suzuki to do more damage,” the report said.

When the Cubs signed Suzuki to a 5-years $85 million deal in 2022, they believed that they’d found their long-term anchor. But it took more than a year for the slugger to get rolling. In 2023, Suzuki hit 20 homers and had a .842 OPS. More importantly, after the All-Star game, Suzuki was batting with a tremendous .938 OPS. 

It has long been speculated that Suzuki could play the role of Bellinger. The slugger is gradually coming to his best and has finally worked out a proper diet for himself. This is one reason why the Cubbies seem a bit hesitant to invest huge amounts in Belli. Another reason is the great prospect list of the franchise. 

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With top prospects like Michael Busch and Pete Crow-Armstrong available, the Cubs could choose to focus on their development more from now on. All of this has sent mixed signals regarding the Bellinger deal.

Where do Belli and the North Siders go from here? 

The Athletics’ report did say that “this is shaking out the way the Cubs saw a possible reunion with Bellinger.” Which means things are going as planned for the Cubbies. It could be true, as despite such a long delay, they still remain firm as the favorites. Could the lack of other suitors prove to be a bane for Scott Boras? Possibly.

On the other hand, the Cubs hitting coach shared that, “There’s plenty of guys (here) who can fill that power stuff,” when talking about the gap that Belli’s absence leaves. So it’s quite clear that the Cubs have prepared themselves well for every possibility. Has Boras done the same?

Read more: Chicago Cubs in Trouble With Star Infielder? Stalled Cody Bellinger Talks Highlight Underwhelming Off-Season