I've said it once and I'll say it again -- by most accounts, the Chicago Cubs are the favorites to sign Cody Bellinger. However, the Scott Boras client remains a free agent this late in the offseason, so anything can happen.
Bellinger's asking price is said to be high coming off a bounce-back season. This is his most recent chance at a multiyear payday. Just as Boras did last offseason with his client Carlos Correa, he's willing to wait on a Bellinger deal.
Recently, some Cubs jerseys were posted online -- namely the Nike 'Vapor' jerseys -- and Cody Bellinger was among the options for fans to choose from. Could this be a sign the Bellinger move is right around the corner?
The 2024 Nike Vapor jerseys are out & are only available in 2 Cubs players currently: Dansby and Cody.
— OBVIOUS SHIRTS® (@obvious_shirts) February 1, 2024
It would be fiscally irresponsible of Nike to risk production costs on a free agent UNLESS they know where he’ll be playing in 2024.
Cody Bellinger to the Cubs, confirmed. 😁 pic.twitter.com/7iukjb7gQ7
As 'fiscally irresponsible' as this Cubs fan thinks it might be for Nike to post these jerseys prior to Bellinger's signing, it's unlikely they have any real information and instead are relying on recent reporting trends. If Bellinger signs elsewhere, the company will gladly count the cash they made at Cubs fans expense because, well, it's a business after all.
Cubs fans Cody Bellinger conspiracy theory isn't real life
If I had a dollar every time I heard “The Chicago Cubs are the front runner for signing Cody Bellinger” I would have enough money to sign Cody Bellinger. #SignCodyBellinger #LetsGoJed pic.twitter.com/xJPKHA0041
— OBVIOUS SHIRTS® (@obvious_shirts) January 31, 2024
Even Cubs fans know this announcement is too good to be true.
Yeah but people still buy Grace, Sandberg, and Sosa jerseys. And while I share your optimism, I've been a Cubs fan long enough to roll with the disappointment
— outdoor_dad (@outdoorsy_pa) February 1, 2024
Best conspiracy theory I've heard today
— Frank Romano (@furter4) February 1, 2024
— The Reverend KFidds (@KFidds) February 1, 2024
— Steven (@SpdCubs26) February 1, 2024
As Cubbies Crib's Jake Misener notes, the jersey announcement is likely linked to the widely-held belief that eventually one side of these negotiations will balk:
"It's an interesting choice and maybe it's just because some intern cooked up an email and those are the two biggest household names from the 2023 team. Or maybe the industry-wide expectation that Bellinger will eventually return to Chicago is so strong, the team at Nike felt confident selling his jersey heading into spring training."
If Bellinger eventually moves off his $200 million price tag, the Cubs should pivot towards signing him to a long-term deal, assuming they intend to contend in Craig Counsell's first season. Until then, this is all fool's gold.