Insights on Cubs’ Next Moves post Cody Bellinger Signing
The Chicago Cubs have finally signed Cody Bellinger, bringing the long, drawn-out winter to a close. Although an official announcement is yet to be made, the team feels complete with the addition of Bellinger. In order to make space on the 40-man roster, the Cubs are considering trading away a pitcher. They value everyone on their current roster and would prefer not to lose a player for nothing. The hope is to be in deep negotiations with another team, even if a pitcher is designated for assignment, so that they can still make a trade.
With Bellinger now on the roster, the Cubs are pushing up against the luxury tax. Last season, they stayed under the tax to improve their playoff odds and secure a better draft pick if Bellinger had signed elsewhere. However, this season they are not concerned about going over the luxury tax if they are competing by the deadline. The question becomes how far they are willing to go over. On the other hand, if they fall out of contention before the deadline, they will look to shed some expiring deals and be under the first threshold.
Despite looking for upgrades during spring, the Cubs feel that this is their team. While players like Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, Matt Chapman, and J.D. Martinez would be upgrades, budget constraints may make it difficult to sign them. The Cubs are also unlikely to make any further additions to their bullpen. They prefer to have options in their bullpen to shuttle players between Iowa and Chicago throughout the season.
The Cubs are relying on repeat performances from last season’s pitchers Adbert Alzolay, Julian Merryweather, and Mark Leiter Jr. However, they also need younger pitchers like Luke Little, Daniel Palencia, and Ben Brown to step up. They have veterans like Hector Neris and Yency Almonte to provide stability. The Cubs acknowledge that they lack a dominant force at the backend, but they are not willing to give a big money, long-term deal for a closer.
The Cubs considered adding Matt Chapman at third base, but they were concerned about having too many right-handed hitters in their lineup. They wanted to avoid a lineup that could be easily pitched to and game-planned against. With Bellinger, the opposing coaching staff will have something to think about.
Although there are concerns about Bellinger’s lack of hard contact and low expected stats from last season, the Cubs believe in his defensive and base-running skills. Even if his production drops, they see him as a 3.0 to 3.5 WAR player over a full season.
The signings of veterans David Peralta, Dominic Smith, and Garrett Cooper on minor-league deals should not be overanalyzed. Peralta and Smith were insurance moves in case the Cubs couldn’t re-sign Bellinger. Cooper’s addition may suggest another move is coming, but it is more likely that the Cubs are taking advantage of eager players looking to sign and get into camp.
Overall, the Cubs have made significant moves during the winter and believe they have a strong team heading into the season. With Bellinger on board, they are ready to compete and make a push for the playoffs.
(Photo: Michael McLoone / USA Today)