As the MLB trade deadline draws nearer, Cody Bellinger is putting up numbers for the Chicago Cubs that are daring teams to trade for him.
Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger is having a fantastic season. Following a couple of down years riddled with injuries, he's recaptured his spark while playing in Chicago this year. MLB has taken notice of the Bellinger they knew in 2017-2019 making a resurgence in 2023.
Bellinger's name has come up a lot in trade talks ahead of the trade deadline. With Chicago looking like sellers, another club seeking an outfielder with a left-handed bat could grab Bellinger before the deadline. Several teams are likely interested in Bellinger, including the New York Yankees, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, and San Francisco Giants.
The hard-hitting lefty could be on the move before August 1. His suitors are hopeful that Bellinger would continue his hot summer with a new team.
Cubs: Cody Bellinger's red-hot July screams come-and-get-me
Bellinger's elite defense has always been an upside. This season, he's returned to form with his offense, slashing .319/.369/.549. He looks more comfortable at the plate than he has in years. Bellinger has been especially red-hot for the past month. Take a look at his numbers since the end of June.
Since June 24, Bellinger is slashing .446/.475/.728. In this time, he's racked up 21 RBIs. These are the stats of a player ready to be traded to a contender. His performance screams come-and-get-me.
This version of Bellinger that baseball is seeing is far from the player who was non-tendered by the Los Angeles Dodgers last winter after he struggled from 2020-2022. Bellinger then signed a low-risk one-year prove-it deal with the Cubs. He certainly has proven his worth. Eat your heart out, Dodgers.
While Bellinger is highly sought after, there's something that would stop him from landing on a contending team, and that is, if Chicago decide not to sell at the deadline. The Cubs are currently third in the NL Central division.
The Cubs were expected to be sellers at the deadline. With a Wild Card spot still in play at the end of July, that expectation is being questioned. Prior to play on July 25, the Cubs are seven games back in the NL Central. The Cincinnati Reds trail the Milwaukee Brewers by 1.5 games. The Cubs are just five games out of a National League Wild Card spot.
A lot depends on what happens in the NL standings in the next week. If the Cubs have a huge week and the teams ahead of them like the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies don't, they could shave that Wild Card standings deficit down more. If the organization believes they have a legitimate shot at sneaking into a Wild Card spot at the end of the season, the Cubs might not be sellers after all.
If the Cubs don't sell, Bellinger's suitors will have to look elsewhere for the lefty bat they desire. If the Cubs do sell, MLB fans are eager to see where Bellinger lands and if his big summer will continue elsewhere.