NEWSLETTER
For as much as I’d LIKE the Cubs to go on an incredible tear before the All-Star break, turning their season around and becoming buyers at the trade deadline … that doesn’t seem particularly likely. Anything is possible, but the math isn’t mathing. Not right now, at least. So then I’m not particularly surprised to see the vultures begin to circle the almost-carcass that is the 2024 Chicago Cubs.
Two Teams Increase Scouting Presence on Cubs
In an overnight update at The Athletic (via Will Sammon, Katie Woo, and Patrick Mooney), word arrives that the Yankees and Rangers are taking a good, hard-look at a potentially selling Cubs team, seemingly with one particular player in mind.
With the Cubs struggling to gain traction in the playoff race, teams like the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers have recently had a noticeable scouting presence around the club, a league source said. If the trend continues for the Cubs, Bellinger’s name will likely become a much-discussed name again near the deadline, as it was last season.
…Buying or selling is always a complex decision for teams on the fence, and executives would have to take into account Bellinger’s contract structure, which could essentially make him a rental hitter or potentially a big-money commitment through 2026.
Cody Bellinger isn’t having an amazing season, but his overall production is honestly fine for a plus defender at multiple positions: .271/.331/.428 (113 wRC+). Any team in need of a left-handed bat, contact, center field, or first base could easily make use of Bellinger.
And here’s another thing, he’s been even better lately.
Cody Bellinger is currently riding a nine-game hitting streak and is slashing .306/.346/.403 (115 wRC+) with just a 15.8% strikeout rate over his last 133 PAs. If you want to get even cuter with the cutoff dates, you can point to his 124 wRC+ since June 8, which includes eight multi-hit games.
Trading him – because of those opt outs – is going to be tricky and result in a much smaller return than he would have netted last deadline. There’s no doubt about that. But I kind of struggle with the argument out there that he’s not tradable because of it. He’s not the star the Cubs need him to be, but as a complimentary piece on an actual contender, he could have a ton of value.
As for those two teams in particular …
The Texas Rangers (74 wRC+, 0.3 WAR) have gotten next to no value out of their center fielders this year. And the same goes for first base (104 wRC+, 0.8 WAR).
The New York Yankees obviously have Aaron Judge playing center field, but he could easily move to left in place of Alex Verdugo … an outfield of Judge-Bellinger-Soto would be pretty wild. Of course, the Yankees also need a first baseman, after Anthony Rizzo went down injured (after what was already a very disappointing start to the season).
There’s also the fact that the Yankees tried hard to acquire Bellinger at the deadline last year and were considering him over the offseason, as well. Oh, and Yankee Stadium is a good place for left-handed hitters.
But I could also be reading too much into the Bellinger mention above. The Cubs are not a team built for obvious selling this season, but if the skid continues and the deficit deepens, pretty much anyone should and probably will be made available. For now, just note … the vultures are circling, the rumors are starting, and this could be the beginning of the end for this version of the Cubs.
