Cubs center fielder and first baseman Cody Bellinger experienced a bit of a career renaissance in 2023.
After largely being written off following back-to-back duds in 2021 and ’22, Bellinger dazzled with a .307/.356/.525 slashline, 26 home runs and 97 RBIs with Chicago. In an attempt to cash in on his rejuvenation at the age of 28, Bellinger declined a $25 million option for ’24 and became a free agent.
On Wednesday afternoon, Jon Heyman of The New York Post named two leaders in the Bellinger sweepstakes as December nears its midpoint.
"The Cubs for me make perfect sense. I know he loved it there," Heyman said. "Obviously the (Blue) Jays now that they didn't get (Dodgers designated hitter and pitcher Shohei) Ohtani, they didn't get (Yankees outfielder Juan) Soto, they want a left-handed bat... I think Toronto will be in there for Bellinger. Those are the two most likely teams at this point."
Down to two teams for Cody Bellinger? 🤔
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) December 13, 2023
(w/ @JonHeyman) pic.twitter.com/JkW8nM0Gay
Bellinger began his career with Los Angeles in 2017, where he burst on to the scene with 39 home runs as a rookie. He went on to win the NL MVP award in 2019 with a .305/.406/.629 slashline, 47 home runs and 115 RBIs.
Both the Cubs and Blue Jays had been rumored to be in the mix for Ohtani, who announced his intent Saturday to sign the largest deal in the history of North American sports with the Dodgers.
