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Cubs Trade Cody Bellinger, Cash to Yankees for Pitching Prospect

Originally posted on On Tap Sports Net | By Ron Luce | Last updated Dec 17, 2024 7:36 PM ET

The elephant in the room for the Chicago Cubs all offseason has been the idea of trading OF Cody Bellinger. Originally, it felt like it was the Cubs' way of shedding salary and acting like a small-market team instead of the giant that they are.

Nonetheless, here we are. According to reports, OF Cody Bellinger has been traded to the New York Yankees for RHP Cody Poteet. This move is a full salary dump, but its an easier pill to swallow after the sport-shaking addition of Kyle Tucker on Friday. In the trade, the Cubs are sending $5 million with Bellinger to the Yankees.

Of the $5 million the Cubs are sending to the Yankees in the Cody Bellinger trade, $2.5 million will cover his 2025 salary, per source. The remaining $2.5 million will either cover the buyout if he doesn't exercise his player option for 2026 or Bellinger's 2026 salary if he does.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 17, 2024

Poteet has a long minor-league career to pair with three seasons of MLB service. Poteet was good in limited action with the Yankees, holding a 2.22 ERA over five appearances in 2024. That said, Poteet has mostly been a starter for the Yankees and it is unlikely that he remains a starter now with the Cubs.

Poteet's stuff isn't overly impressive, but he has a full arsenal including a 4-seam fastball, sinker, changeup, sweeper, and curveball. Perhaps a transition to the bullpen is a viable place for the 30-year-old in Chicago.

With Bellinger's departure, Tucker fully assumes the duties in right field. In addition, Seiya Suzuki remains at DH, and Michael Busch likely remains as the everyday first baseman, as noted by Jed Hoyer in his press conference on Tuesday. Now, with more money also opening up, Hoyer needs to continue filling out the roster and taking a chance to go for it in 2025.

This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission.

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