The Chicago Cubs have been the club considered most likely to sign free agent Cody Bellinger — who won a Silver Slugger Award with them last season — throughout this MLB offseason. Yet, one kid is keeping them from doing so.
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During an appearance on MLB Network's "Hot Stove" show, insider Jon Morosi noted that the Cubs haven't been willing to pay Bellinger what he has been asking for throughout his free agency sweepstakes because of Pete Crow-Armstrong, a 21 year old outfielder and their organization's top prospect.
Will Cody Bellinger return to the Windy City?@jonmorosi explains the impact that Cubs' No. 1 prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong has had on the free agent slugger's market. pic.twitter.com/7zHaqGcsUe
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 25, 2024
"Part of the Cubs' willingness to pay [Bellinger] is linked to their confidence to Pete Crow-Armstrong, and their belief that he could potentially impact their team enduringly as an everyday center fielder," Morosi said.
The Cubs' confidence in Crow-Armstrong makes sense, given that he hit .283 with 20 home runs, 82 RBIs, and 37 stolen bases across 107 minor league games last season.
Even though Crow-Armstrong went hitless in 19 plate appearances with the Cubs in September 2023, there seems to be widespread belief that the 21 year old — who hits left-handed, plays center field, and has an extremely similar skillset as Bellinger — will be ready to step into everyday starting center fielder role for 2024.
Morosi did make clear that the Cubs can have their cake and eat it too, when it comes to their duo of potential left-handed center fielders.
"Of course, the Cubs can also play Bellinger at first base," Morosi said. "The fit that Bellinger has on the North Side is clear... But because [the Cubs] have Pete Crow-Armstrong, their willingness to spend upwards of $200 million [for Bellinger] at this point is in question."
So while the Cubs still seem like the favorite to sign Bellinger, their vote of trust in Crow-Armstrong might keep them from committing to Bellinger in the long-term.
Yet, there's also a chance Bellinger is reluctant to play first base. Or, if Chicago did sign Bellinger and plan to play him in center, perhaps he wouldn't want Crow-Armstrong breathing down his back for the foreseeable future.
What's for certain is that the ongoing sweepstakes for Bellinger appears to have many more twists and turns in store. Since the 2023 Silver Slugger doesn't appear willing to lower his asking price, some club will need to break the bank in order to have him in their lineup by Opening Day.
