The 2023 Chicago Cubs season wasn’t just about Dansby Swanson’s $177 million, seven-year pact or Cody Bellinger‘s one-year, $17.5 million comeback bid. It was about a spark that ignited beyond contracts—a friendship that crackled on the field and in the clubhouse. Swanson, the steady All-Star, and Bellinger, the enigmatic slugger, found a rhythm that resonated with Chicago.

As Bellinger’s prolonged free agency extends into a nascent 2024 with rumors of a possible Cubbies reunion, whispers turn to roar: Swanson, the Cubs’ lionheart, aches for reconciliation with brother Cody Love. His voice becomes a beacon, urging the team to make it happen, to keep the magic alive—the magic of baseball, friendship, and two players who were better together.

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“We text here and there,” Swanson admits to The Athletic, his words laden with a palpable longing. “He’s obviously an awesome player, and we’d love to have him back. I think that’s about as clear as day.”  His yearning isn’t merely driven by sentiment.

Swanson witnessed firsthand the transformative power of their on-field synergy. Their electrifying duo fueled the Cubs’ resurgence in 2023, turning them into legitimate NL Central contenders. Empathizing with his friend’s free agency journey, Swanson offers quiet support.

“We have a good friendship and a relationship,” he ruminates before divulging: “A lot of it is just checking in and seeing how he’s doing, how the offseason is going, offering any advice and things of that nature for free agency just because I have been through it so recently.”

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This off-field connection has the potential to blossom into on-field brilliance, making their reunion more than just a wish. It is a strategic call for the Cubs to capitalize on a proven winning formula. With their infectious camaraderie and their undeniable talent—together, they painted a picture of a brighter future for the Cubs. Remember their Opening Day power play?

The Bellinger-Swanson mashup resonated with a perfect symphony

Swanson and Bellinger’s 2023 synergy crackled across Wrigley all season long, their bond transcending the barrier of mere statistics. Take Opening Day—a debut homer for Dansby—while Cody orchestrated the team’s first victory. Their bats thundered in unison: August nights painted with back-to-back homers, comeback wins fueled by Dansby’s four-hit symphony, and Cody’s two-bagger serenade.

The accolades reflected their magic on the same vibrato: Silver Slugger elections, National League MVP ballot mentions, and the “Cubs we know who have 20+ home run type power” list nominations by Cubbies supporters, boasting both their names.

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Eric Hosmer, the duo’s former teammate, called their center field compatibility “a heck of a defense,” while fans erupted at its every synchronized display. Their roars weren’t just about individual brilliance; they were about the beating heart of a revitalized Cubs team. This sliver of hope surrounding their reunion isn’t just a wish; it is a yearning for the magic they conjured together, a symphony only their bats can bring to the Cubs’ dugout once again.