(Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Now that the fates of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Juan Soto have been decided – the first two in free agency and the third via trade – it’s now time to focus on the second tier of players available in the market.
Names like Cody Bellinger, Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, and Shota Imanaga belong in that tier.
Bellinger has been far less interesting to teams than he probably would have hoped.
Even though he is talented, there are several red flags on his underlying stats that teams are afraid of.
Still, he is one of the best hitters – if not the best – available, and two squads are apparently willing to go all the way to sign him.
“The Blue Jays still have interest in free-agent CF/1B Cody Bellinger, but the Cubs certainly have a greater need, and desire, to bring Bellinger back to Chicago,” MLB insider Bob Nightengale tweeted.
The Blue Jays still have interest in free-agent CF/1B Cody Bellinger, but the Cubs certainly have a greater need, and desire, to bring Bellinger back to Chicago. https://t.co/2ddqfvwsKd
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 26, 2023
The Blue Jays’ interest in Bellinger has more to do with the desire to do something big in free agency.
They already have Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to play first base and just re-signed Kevin Kiermaier to be their center fielder again.
Those are the two positions Bellinger fits the best.
Still, they can juggle things around to accommodate him and they can definitely use his bat.
The Cubs, however, do need him the most.
They were on the doorstep of the postseason with Bellinger helping this past season.
The former MVP hit .307 with 26 home runs and 97 RBI in 2023.
Without him, the Cubs lineup is much less dangerous.
It appears it will be a two-horse race for Bellinger.
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