"Cody Bellinger is leaning towards opting out" - MLB insider expects versatile slugger to test free agency yet again

Last month, Cody Bellinger completed his second season with the Chicago Cubs, and the first since signing a three-year, $80 million deal before the start of the 2024 campaign. However, Ivy League Cubs' Jacob Zanolla reported that Bellinger is "leaning towards opting out of his current contract with the Chicago Cubs and testing free agency this winter".

That sentiment was further backed by Cubs Insider's Evan Altman, who believes the versatile slugger will exercise his player option to terminate his contract with the team at the end of the year and put himself back on the free agent market.

Cody Bellinger initially joined the Cubs on a one-year deal for the 2023 season after getting released by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He averaged .307 last year, with .881 OPS and 26 home runs to finish in the top 10 of the MVP voting alongside earning a Silver Slugger award and being named National League Comeback Player of the Year.

Altman said he expects Bellinger to apply for free agency in the coming weeks. He added other MLB teams are willing to pay him more than what the Cubs are offering him, even though he was unable to replicate his numbers from the previous campaign.

"I’ve been saying the whole time that the odds are good for Bellinger to test the waters and I still believe that’s the case despite his uninspiring season," Altman said.

"This is the versatile outfielder’s last shot at a long-term deal prior to turning 30 and I believe he’ll be able to do significantly better than the two years and $52.5 million he’s got on the table with the Cubs," he added.

Bellinger batted .266/.325/.426 over 130 games in the regular season with 18 home runs, 78 RBIs, and an OPS of .751.

It’s about securing his future beyond 2026: Evan Altman on why Cody Bellinger will choose to opt out

Cody Bellinger won the 2019 NL MVP (Image Source: IMAGN)

As per Altman, securing a long-term contract with a franchise is the main reason why Bellinger will apply for free agency rather than searching for a higher average annual salary. Altman added Bellinger would like to have more control over where he will play in the future as he prepares for the latter phase of his career.

"It’s not a matter of increasing his average annual value, a prospect that is nigh impossible at this point, it’s about securing his future beyond 2026," Altman said.

"Another very important wrinkle here is that Bellinger may also want to have greater control over where he plays, and I don’t mean positionally. Opting back in leaves him at risk of being traded, so choosing free agency at least gives him control over where he goes," he added.

Cody Bellinger was named the NL MVP in 2019, and he also picked up a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger in that same year. Although he usually plays in the outfield, Bellinger is also a capable first baseman, which could ultimately become his role on the field due to recurring injury issues.