Time to panic: 3 Cubs trades Jed Hoyer has to make, even if he doesn’t want to
By Mark Powell
Cubs trades to make: Cody Bellinger is an expiring asset
Cody Bellinger has found his groove after losing it for a few years. Bellinger, a former NL MVP, has started looking like his old self. The red-hot slugger played a major role in several wins over the New York Yankees prior to the All-Star Break.
Bellinger has received interest from several American League teams, including New York and the Houston Astros. Houston, for one, has a gaping hole at first base, a position Bellinger has played in the past. The Yankees need corner outfield help, which would be Bellinger’s primary role in pinstripes.
The Cubs signed Bellinger as a bit of a flyer this season, and it’s paid off big time. His contract has a mutual option for next season should he and his club choose to activate it, but that seems unlikely given he’s sure to make more money on the free-agent market. Bellinger’s versatility and big bat make him an attractive trade deadline commodity, and Chicago would be unwise to hold onto him unless a contract extension is in the works.