What a terrible night for Scott Boras clients. First, Blake Snell got a shock when the New York Yankees signed Marcus Stroman and now the same could be happening with Cody Bellinger. The Chicago Cubs have finally gone in overdrive and their latest trade deal could have left Bellinger and Boras alarmed.
With no end in sight for the Bellinger-Cubs saga, the North Chi-Town Squad might have started looking elsewhere. With his market already being quite thin, could Bellinger get the ultimate shock of watching his favorites riding away to the other side?
Could the Chicago Cubs be moving on from Cody Bellinger?
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The Chicago Cubs were conspicuously silent throughout this offseason. But the Shota Imanaga deal seems to have woken up the dragon. Following up on it, the Cubbies have just made a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers for their top prospects. In exchange for Class A pitcher Jackson Ferries and outfielder Zyhir Hope, the Cubs are acquiring Triple-A infielder Michael Busch and reliever Yency Almonte.
According to ESPN “Busch, 26, hit 27 home runs for Triple-A Oklahoma City last season while also appearing in 27 major league games for the Dodgers.” In a way, Busch fills the exact spots that were once held by Cody Bellinger. Could this mean that the Cubs have lost their patience and are now looking for Bellinger’s replacement?
The talks between the Chicago Cubs and Cody Bellinger have continued since the offseason began. Most experts believed that these discussions were the main reason for the Cubs’ lack of business. But both parties have not been able to meet in the middle. While Bellinger and Boras expect a massive contract, the Cubs still have doubts over Cody Love’s form.
Watch This Story: Delving Deep Into The Probable Reasons Behind Chicago Cubs’ Getting Nod From The Japanese Ace, Shota Imanaga, Over Other Suitors
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As a result, this trade deal may have given a strong signal to Boras. Especially as three of his clients are currently getting linked with the Cubs.
The battle between the North Side and Scott Boras
Apart from Bellinger, the Cubs are linked with Rhys Hoskins and Matt Chapman as well, making it a long offseason between the Cubbies and Boras. The parties are engaged in a rough battle with the superagent possibly trying to get double signings. MLB Insider Jon Heyman alluded to this when talking to Audacy, “(Signing) all of them would be quite a coup, but I would say at this point you’ve got to figure they’re going to get at least one of them.”
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With Hoskins as well as Bellinger being infielders, this arrival of Busch may ensure only one of them gets signed by the Cubs. Though the links haven’t yet broken, this trade could show all is not well in Scott Boras’ world.