Former MVP finally ends free agency, agrees to deal with Cubs
The Chicago Cubs and outfielder Cody Bellinger are in agreement on a three-year, $80M contract, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. The contract will include opt-outs after the first and second years.
Passan reported that Bellinger will receive $30M this season, $30M in 2025 if he doesn't opt out and $20M in 2026 if he doesn't opt out after the second year.
The 28-year-old first joined Chicago on a one-year, $17.5M deal for the 2023 season. He declined his player option with the team over the offseason to test free-agency waters.
Bellinger is coming off a stellar first season with Chicago. He slashed .307/.356/.525 with 26 home runs and 97 RBI over 130 games. The slugger also posted a 4.4 WAR and had 20 stolen bases, the most in his career.
He was one of just four players last season to hit at least .300 with 25 or more home runs and 20-plus steals, joining National League MVP Ronald Acuña Jr., American League MVP Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman.
The 2023 season was one of the healthiest Bellinger has had in a few years, which allowed him to put up numbers that earned him the NL Comeback Player of the Year Award. He also won a Silver Slugger and finished 10th in NL MVP voting.
The deal has not been made official by the Cubs, as it is still pending a physical.
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