Among the leading participants in the Cody Bellinger free agency contention, his former club, the Chicago Cubs, remains an option—justifiably so. Bellinger spent one of his best years under the Cubs’ banner this season. Naturally, any team will want such talent back on its base, won’t they? However, Cody Love’s asking price for his new offers still poses the team’s biggest hurdle to cross. This very reason might force them to look elsewhere in search of gifted sluggers. They have the option, after all.

The Cubs hired the costliest manager in MLB just a few weeks ago. That might lead the team to focus the remaining resources elsewhere, clinching players they can afford and make use of for the longest time. When push comes to shove, they have to satiate Craig Counsell’s hunger for building a winning team. How might the team plan on doing that without Bellinger?

Potential reasons behind the Cubs’ possible decision not to acquire Cody Bellinger

As a Fansided report puts it, “Belli is just one winter removed from signing a prove-it deal with in Chicago, having lost his swing entirely. If anyone knows if his 2023 campaign is replicable, it is them.”

It looks like Bellinger has considered 2023 a monumental season as well, given the fact that the slugger’s asking price for the next season has reached a high threshold of $250 million to $300 million. However, the Cubs are not ready to splurge big.

Cody Bellinger’s record this year with the Cubs racked a high .881 OPS as he scored 26 homers with 97 RBIs, hitting .307 across 130 games played. His phenomenal performance marks a huge comeback from his disappointing form of hitting .165 and .210 from 2021 to 2022.

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Some teams, like the Toronto Blue Jays, have their eyes set on Bellinger, as he will make a fine addition to their current flow of undertaking the most aggressive free agents remaining in the market. They or any other clubhouses planning to go after Cody Bellinger might offer him a contract worth $200 million. The Cubs could still refuse to give in.

Other options in hand might make spending some winter money fit

The Cubs want to spend some money this offseason. However, it doesn’t necessarily have to be on Bellinger. The team just clinched one of the winningest managers in MLB, Craig Counsell, in a never-seen-before record deal worth $40 million for five years.

The Chicago Cubs barely made it to the 2023 playoffs, but they’re bound to make some promising hires for the next season. Counsell can then finally show his magic with them. The question is whether it is available in the remaining options on the winter market.

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Right now, the best choice for the team is to focus on prospect development. They have players like Pete Crow-Armstrong, whom MLB Pipeline has tagged as the ultimate weapon: “As exciting as Crow-Armstrong’s enhanced offensive upside is, it pales in comparison to his defense.”

Compared to the Cubs’ option of overpaying for Cody Bellinger, Crow-Armstrong can be a steal with his minor-league experience. Armstrong is well on his way towards the majors. It makes sense to add someone from their own farm system whom they can use long term rather than sticking with Cody Love. Only time will decide whether they consider that option or not.