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The Cubs Trading Cody Bellinger is "Not Impossible"
It sounds like the rumor mill is not ruling out the possibility of a Cody Bellinger trade entirely.
Patrick K. Flowers
July 22, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
If the Chicago Cubs wind up selling this Trade Deadline, one name that will be discussed a great deal – among the punditry, if not necessarily among the teams – is outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger. Because he is not necessarily viewed as a long-term lock for the Cubs (his deal contemplated that he might leave after 2024), it’s understandable that outsiders would see him as something close to a “rental” trade candidate.
But, as we have discussed at length, that is almost certainly not reality, precisely because of his contract structure. The short version: because he’s guaranteed $50 million in 2025 and 2026 if he wants it, but can opt out after 2024 if he wants, an acquiring team would get very little upside and would be on the hook for all the downside. Not a recipe for a particularly meaningful return.
And that was all BEFORE an errant fastball broke Bellinger’s left middle finger, and shut him down earlier this month. It’s not at all clear that he’ll be able to play again before the deadline, making it all the less likely he could be traded.
That said, it sounds like the rumor mill is not ruling out the possibility of a Cody Bellinger trade entirely.
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