Despite Christmas now being behind us, a few teams that are still involved in the Cody Bellinger sweepstakes just received an unexpected gift.
Tuesday morning, USA Today Major League Baseball columnist Bob Nightengale posted on X that, "Center fielder Kevin Kiermaier has reached an agreement on a one-year, $10.5 million contract with incentives to return to the Toronto Blue Jays. The deal should become official today."
Center fielder Kevin Kiermaier has reached an agreement on a one-year, $10.5 million contract with incentives to return to the Toronto Blue Jays. The deal should become official today.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 26, 2023
In a reply to that initial post, Nightengale added, "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."
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
While Nightengale did note that signing Kiermaier doesn't mean that the Blue Jays are now out on Bellinger, it does mean that Toronto is officially returning all three of its starting outfielders from last season (Kiermaier, Daulton Varsho and George Springer) — all of whom performed well last season. Considering that Bellinger is also an outfielder, re-signing Kiermaier suggests that Toronto isn't as big a player in the Bellinger sweepstakes as it was on Christmas Day.
Not to mention that the $10.5 million given to Kiermaier could have been Bellinger's instead — which, considering that Bellinger is asking for north of $250 million, makes finding enough cash for Bellinger even more difficult.
So what does this mean for the Bellinger sweepstakes? Well, now that the team which seemed most likely to sign Bellinger just one week ago doesn't appear to be the favorite any longer, the other two teams believed to be top contenders for the 2023 Silver Slugger's services — the San Francisco Giants and the Chicago Cubs — must be feeling good about their chances right about now.
Both the Cubs and the Giants could really use Bellinger's bat in their lineup next season, albeit for different reasons. For Chicago, not only did Bellinger become a Wrigley Field fan favorite in 2023, but he was their best hitter by far. If the Cubs — who went 83-79 last season and missed a wild card spot by the skin of their teeth — don't re-sign Bellinger, there's little chance their 2024 roster could realistically compete for a playoff spot.
As for San Francisco — well, all one needs to do is look at what the Los Angeles Dodgers, their division rivals, have done in free agency this offseason to see why signing Bellinger is vital.
Then again, don't count out the New York Yankees, either. Even after trading for Juan Soto, the Bronx Bombers could always use another left-handed power bat — and they've always got the money for it.
What's for sure is that, if the Blue Jays are now out on Bellinger, his market remains as compelling as ever.
