The Cubs reintroduced Cody Bellinger at a press convention this morning. The 2-time All-Star was alongside agent Scott Boras and Chicago president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer to debate his protracted free agent course of (link to the full presser).
In the beginning of the offseason, few would’ve anticipated Bellinger settling for a three-year assure value $80MM. His camp started the winter seeking a a lot bigger provide, reportedly in search of upwards of $200MM. Unsurprisingly, nobody confirmed the exact contract phrases that Bellinger had sought, though the previous MVP conceded he initially anticipated an prolonged deal.
“Yeah, I feel there’s positively that thought that goes into it,” Bellinger stated when requested if he anticipated signing a long-term contract. “Finally, that’s the aim. … I talked to Scott constantly to see what was occurring. On the finish of the day, I’m tremendous excited the way it all labored out. Sure, clearly (thought of an extended deal), however I’m very excited with all of it and really pleased to get going.”
With the offseason nearing an finish, it’s clear that groups weren’t going to fulfill Bellinger’s asking worth on that sort of contract. At that time, he moved to the a lot shorter time period with the flexibility to decide out and retest free company in both of the following two offseasons. He’ll gather $30MM for the upcoming season. If he repeats his 2023 manufacturing, he’ll nearly actually take one other swing at an enormous contract — this time with out a qualifying provide hooked up and with doubtlessly higher confidence across the league that he has put his dismal 2021-22 campaigns behind him.
Boras instructed that Bellinger was at all times concentrating on a type of outcomes: both an particularly long-term deal or a short-term pact with opt-outs. “Cody and I agreed that we’re going to take a look at this in a pair methods. We’re going to have two optimistic outcomes for this course of. … Our dynamic was to find out what it was on the opposite finish with a contract of nice size. As we obtained by way of that course of and regarded to it, that’s actually the place we let Jed know that on one thing like this — with this sort of construction, with this sort of flexibility, with these sorts of issues, is what we’re on the lookout for. We had mutual settlement and understanding that one of these construction was agreeable to each of us.”
Bellinger’s youth actually performs a component in that. He turns 29 in July, leaving open the potential of in search of one other long-term pact subsequent winter. His camp appeared to favor that to locking in a five- or six-year contract that will’ve assured greater than $80MM however wasn’t near his preliminary asking worth and wouldn’t have allowed him to get again to the market.
The quick time period with the upper annual wage works effectively for the Cubs. Bellinger affords cowl in each middle area and at first base. Chicago had been set to show to highly-touted however unproven gamers in Pete Crow-Armstrong and Michael Busch at these respective positions. The transfer pushes the Cubs to a franchise excessive when it comes to participant spending.
RosterResource calculates their 2024 payroll round $222MM. They’re at $234MM in estimated luxurious tax commitments, just under the $237MM base threshold. It’s possible the Cubs will up find yourself paying the CBT in the event that they’re as aggressive as they hope. Even when that is their last transfer of the offseason, any wage taken on in midseason acquisitions counts towards the CBT on a prorated foundation.
Hoyer predictably declined to reply when requested if possession was keen to pay the posh tax. He famous that it’s his “expectation” they’ll carry this roster into the season, though he indicated the entrance workplace will keep open to alternatives. “Clearly, we’re by no means going to cease wanting. By no means put a last nail in that as a result of issues come up on a regular basis — trades, free brokers. However, it’s the twenty eighth of February, so I feel that’s the expectation, although I’d by no means rule something out.“
