Cubs biggest offseason gamble is paying huge dividends

The Cubs’ decision to sign Cody Bellinger to a cheap one-year deal last offseason is working out better than most expected.

He’s back.

The city of Chicago got to experience the comeback of Bulls legend Michael Jordan eight years ago, and now it gets to see a World Series champion rise from the ashes. Are we comparing the basketball G.O.A.T. to Cody Bellinger? Yes, yes we are.

Bellinger’s hype could not be higher right now. Since he signed a one-year, $17.5 million deal with the Chicago Cubs this past summer, he has been on an absolutely torrid offensive streak, recently ripping his seventh homer of the season against the Miami Marlins.

It’s much too early to call Bellinger the team’s MVP right now — it’s been one month. Relax. Yet what Bellinger has achieved in his start to the 2023 season mirrors that of his 2019 season, when he was eventually named NL MVP, and one can’t ignore the surmounting belief that maybe, just maybe, Cody Bellinger is back.

Cubs’ Cody Bellinger is playing at the top of his game in 2023

After getting put down by the Los Angeles Dodgers last season, the 27-year-old Bellinger found a new doghouse willing to take him in. The Cubs had previously hired two ex-Dodgers hitting coaches, Dustin Kelly and Johnny Washington, and that nurturing environment coupled with a much-needed change of scenery may have been enough to spark a new fire in the fallen-from-grace slugger.

Bellinger’s injuries in his last few seasons in LA derailed his career. But they didn’t kill it.

In his first season with the Cubs, Bellinger has stepped back into his All-Star form and is on his way to becoming an MVP frontrunner based on his commanding stats, at least.

Bellinger talked to The Athletic about his current mindset, noting the importance of staying healthy:

"“Every day is a grind just because the game is so hard. Just wake up and prepare the best I can and get my body in position to help this team win.”"

Once one of the most beloved superstars at Dodger Stadium, Bellinger is slowly but surely winning over the fans at Wrigley Field, who are nervously holding their breath for a future playoff berth.

And they’re also holding their breath as they wait for the other shoe to drop. Will Bellinger’s starlight fade as the season progresses?

There’s plenty of baseball left to be played, and all Bellinger can do is not look down. The ascent back up the top of the mountain can be a treacherous one.