Scott Boras hints at huge spend needed if the Cubs want to keep Cody Bellinger in Chicago
Scott Boras was in rare form at this week's MLB GM meetings, and among his references, corny jokes, and other comments, he discussed one of his clients, Chicago Cubs free agent Cody Bellinger.
Bellinger, who signed with the Cubs on a one-year deal last year, proved he could recapture his All-Star form after years of languishing following winning an MVP with the Dodgers. His career started with four straight 100-plus OPS+ seasons, only to follow with a 44 and 81, two extremely bad seasons at the plate in 2021 and 2022. With the Cubs, he got back to a 133 (.881 OPS) with a slash line of .307/.356/.525.
Bellinger was electric at Wrigley and had the front office wishing they had signed on for more years. Instead, to keep him, they'll have to barter with a number of other teams, certain to drive his price up. Spotrac projects him above $22 million, annually.
Here's what Boras said about the outfielder:
"You have a lot of options for him. When he went to Chicago, he feasted on major league pitching. Chicago got the comforts of a full Belli, so the Cubs are going to have to loosen their belts to keep Bellinger."
"Loosen their belts," I think, translates to, "Pay up. Big time." I'm not totally certain, though, I'm not fluent in Boras.
To have to pay up to keep him is to be expected. After Bellinger took complete advantage of a one-year prove-it deal to restore his MLB reputation, he'll have plenty of suitors in an offseason where outfielders are among the most desirable position group in free agency. He's earned it.
Boras gets his clients paid by any means necessary. One of the major Cubs storylines is whether or not he stays in Chicago or gets lured away by a big paycheck elsewhere. Certainly, Boras and Bellinger will be open to a reunion... Price depending.
Christopher Morel's trade value is a nuanced topic
Another Cubs player whose future with the franchise is in flux for 2024 and beyond is youngster Christopher Morel, who got even better at the plate in his sophomore season. After spending much of his rookie season in the outfield, the Cubs tried him at third base and second base, later being pushed to the designated hitter role for much of the final stretch of the season.
Morel's name has unsurprisingly been thrown out there in regards to trade rumors. In particular, he has been thought to be an obvious outgoing piece if the Cubs were to pull the trigger on a trade with the San Diego Padres for Juan Soto.
Morel is a young player with clear All-Star potential under club control until he hits free agency in 2029. He's one of their most attractive assets if they want to strike a deal for a big star.
Brad Wakai of Fan Nation wrote a column on Morel and the idea of trading him, reminding folks that it's important to keep in mind a Morel trade is not a foregone conclusion. Wakai thinks that, second-base being Morel's best defensive slot, he would be a good insurance plan if Nico Hoerner gets injured. Wakai also points out that if Bellinger ups and leaves in free agency, Morel's power at the plate will be needed.
Morel hit 26 home runs and 20 multi-base hits last season. His slug was second to only Bellinger in 2023.
There's not much room to disagree with Wakai here. The value Morel brings is clear, and he's an attractive trade piece because he's such a good player with obvious potential. While there may be a desire to cash in, a desired asset has to make you wonder what you're giving up on, too.
Plus, Morel is in just year two. While defensive struggles have been evident in his young career, who is to say in year three and beyond he doesn't grow there?
Wakai concludes that the Cubs will command a high price for Morel, as they should, and it may keep him firmly on the Northside for the time being.
Here's what Craig Counsell's first comments were after accepting Cubs managerial role
The Cubs have a new skipper for 2024 and beyond, signing Craig Counsell to a massive five-year deal to replace David Ross. Ross was believed to have job security exiting the 2023 season. That, evidently, may have been the case, were it not for former Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell becoming available and on the market.
Counsell skirted opportunities with the Cleveland Guardians and New York Mets to join the Cubs, the latter of which was thought to be most likely because it would have reunited him with executive David Stearns, who he worked with in Milwaukee.
It feels like a win for Chicago who not only got a highly sought-after manager, but also hired him away from a division rival.
Counsell spoke to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel about the pivot recently. Here are some of his key comments.
Counsell said he really wanted a new challenge.
"I think as I was going through this process, it became clear that I needed and wanted a new professional challenge. At the same time, look, I'm grateful to be part of this community. And that's going to continue, hopefully, because it has nothing to do with baseball, that part of it. I'm looking forward to being part of a new community and hopefully impact our community well, too. But as I went through it, it just became clear that I needed a new challenge."
He also indicated the fact that Chicago gave him one advantage Cleveland and New York couldn't: The ability to take a new role and challenge up without having to uproot everything. Milwaukee and Chicago are not quite a Megalopolis, but are in close proximity. The commute isn't too bad.
"In looking at my decision, you're considering a number of things, and the challenging part of this industry is that there's one job in 30 places in 30 different cities and me still preserving what I think is a great situation (family-wise). I was able to do that, yet also get a professional challenge. But the proximity made this attractive."
He noted that the excitement around the Cubs and their desire to, "do some special things," was attractive to him, but that the challenge and change does not come without some anxiety.
"I mean, it's just, it's a challenge to me with an organization that is very much in a good place and is just trying to do some special things. So, that part of it certainly is exciting and alluring. And, you know, it's a challenge. It's going to be hard. It's scary. Because change is scary. But sometimes you need to push yourself out of that comfort zone, and that makes it exciting."
His discussion in the interview with the Journal was largely framed around his goodbye to Milwaukee. Cubs fans will surely hear thoughts aimed more at the Cubs and his viewpoint toward the new role soon enough.
