The Milwaukee Brewers, like practically every season, are not the clear favorite to win the National League Central Division. Heading into 2024, the St. Louis Cardinals have improved, the Cincinnati Reds have added some new pieces around their promising young players, and the Chicago Cubs have recently made a huge addition by reuniting with a player who placed 10th in MVP vote last season.
Cody Bellinger has re-signed with the Chicago Cubs.
This off-season Scott Boras has remained patient with a lot of his clients. Cody Bellinger is one of those players and he is coming off of a .307/.357/.525 season with 26 home runs, 97 RBI, and 20 stolen bases. He was expecting a massive multi year contract north of $200 million. The offer that Bellinger was seeking never came and the 28 year old now is re-joining the Cubs on a three year, $80 million deal that allows him to opt out after each season.
What role might Cody Bellinger have with the Cubs in 2024?
New manager Craig Counsell, formerly of the Milwaukee Brewers, has already stated that he wants Michael Busch to get the first look at first base, therefore Bellinger will start in the outfield. Prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong is expected to play a significant role in center field this year, alongside Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki. Given the way the depth chart has formed, Bellinger may see more reps as a designated hitter.
Does Cody Bellinger signing with the Cubs give them the edge over the Milwaukee Brewers?
Last season, the Brewers won the division by nine games. Milwaukee had 92 wins, while Chicago had 83. The division race remained tight after the All-Star break, lasting a few weeks after the trade deadline, but the seasoned Brew Crew did not falter in September and pushed away.
If Cody Bellinger of 2023 and 2019 (when he earned MVP) returns in 2024, I predict the divisional competition to be tighter, but Bellinger has a history of being inconsistent year after year. A lot will depend on how Bellinger performs in 2024.
The good news for Bellinger is that his contract structure benefits him in that if he produces monster numbers again this year, he can opt out during the off-season and pursue another large contract. If he struggles, he will have a home in Chicago by 2025, with a base income of $30 million.
