Cody Bellinger signs $80 million contract with Chicago Cubs with opt-out clause

Cody Bellinger signs a $80 million contract with the Cubs, with opt-out possibilities after the first two years.

Cody Bellinger's free-agency destination was the logical option in the end, but he has the possibility to test the market after next season. He agreed to a three-year, $80 million contract with the Cubs, with opt-out possibilities after the first two years. The deal will pay him $30 million, $30 million, and $20 million across the trio of seasons. Bellinger had a successful 2023 season with the Cubs, hitting .307 with an .881 OPS and compiling 97 RBIs. He won Comeback Player of the Year and was a possible name for the Yankees to pursue in free agency. His pursuit dragged on to the point where spring training had started, and he ultimately signed with the Cubs. Bellinger's deal didn't land him nearly as much as he would've preferred, with reports that he wanted more than $200 million. His agent, Scott Boras, used Phillies star Bryce Harper and Rangers star Corey Seager as comparisons for Bellinger's pursuit. The Cubs waited for Bellinger to make a decision while adding other pieces to their team. Chairman Tom Ricketts stated that the front office was waiting for Bellinger and Boras to engage. A reunion between Bellinger and the Cubs appears to be all but finalized.