Cody Bellinger is in baseball purgatory though Spring Training has sprung. Unassigned and apparently caught in an endless stalemate with the Chicago Cubs. The much-awaited reunion between the Cubs and the former MVP feels like a distant dream. What was once a predictably guaranteed reality, is now far from.

Thanks to Cubs owner Tom Ricketts, who paints a picture of this passive waiting. He claims that the ball is entirely in Bellinger’s and agent Scott Boras’ court. While Ricketts says, “We’re just waiting,” Boras counters, throwing light on last year’s “aggressive” pursuit from the Cubs. Jon Morosi helps clarify this loose end. 

Jon Morosi addresses Cubs vs. Scott Boras: Stalemate or Strategy? 

Fans hoping for some kind of magical news to come out that the Cubs have signed Cody Bellinger, please hold your horses. Morosi shared that as he analyzed the market and spoke to people around him, he could not identify a team better than Chicago for Belli. His words were, “They are still the best fit for Cody Bellinger. I am not sure that he is ultimately going to land there because the staring competition has been going on for months quite literally.”

Well, it is way past mid-February, and the pen still hasn’t been put to paper. While Cody can be a dynamic player that the Cubs need, nothing can happen unless the stalemate breaks. Another consideration here is that this back-and-forth points to one question: is it a genuine stalemate or a calculated strategy?

Whatever the case may be, Ricketts didn’t seem to comply with Boras’ hefty ask, i.e., rumored to be north of $200 million. This prolonged decision-making is understandably frustrating for fans and analysts. While the two parties take care of business, one can only hope that time does not run out. Fans hope that a talented player like Bellinger does not get late in finding his new destination. 

Where do the Chicago Cubs and Cody Bellinger go from here?

Opening Day is looming, and amid the mounting pressure, will the Cubs finally step up and offer a more enticing deal? Will Boras amend his asking price to find a middle ground with the Cubs? Or will Belli be forced to look at other options, leaving Chicago fans yearning? 

Read More: Billionaire Cubs Owner and Scott Boras Exchange Words, Cody Bellinger Sweepstakes Fire Up Amidst Prolonged Negotiations

The answers to these questions lie in time. However, as Ricketts said, “The goal is to be one of the teams that’s always trying to win, and every year has that opportunity.” If this is the motivation behind every action by the Cubs, then a possible reunion seems likely. However, it matters what Boras strategizes for Cody. 

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