MLB Rumors: Do the Cubs have a Cody Bellinger backup plan?
The Chicago Cubs opted to keep Cody Bellinger at the MLB Trade Deadline — a decision that was the right move for a club climbing into contention at the time. Bellinger is signed through the end of this season, and has a mutual option for 2024. If he keeps performing at this level, there's a good chance he could test the free-agent market.
Bellinger is red hot, slashing .328/.379/.556 on the season with 18 home runs. While not fully resembling his 2019 NL MVP season per say, this is as close as Bellinger has been since he fell off a cliff statistically.
Should Bellinger sign elsewhere for a large contract — which is well within his right — the Cubs have a built-in long term backup plan. Prior to the trade deadline, USA Today's Bob Nightengale said this on local Chicago radio:
"I think there's zero chance that they would re-sign him as a free agent," Nightengale told the Jack Vita Show. "His agent is Scott Boras. He's had a big year, so I would think that there will be a massive price tag on him, over $100 million. So I think he's going to be sitting out until next February, signing right around spring training… I wouldn't be surprised if they ask for at least $150 million."
Ian Happ and Seuya Suzuki are signed through 2026, and Chicago has one of the more exciting young outfield prospects in Pete Crow-Armstrong making his way through the minor-league ranks. He's expected to make his debut sometime in 2024.
As painful as losing a player like Bellinger may be, Chicago is prepared for it. Crow-Armstrong has the talent to be a Gold Glove-caliber defender for a reason.
MLB Rumors: Did Justin Verlander take another shot at the Mets?
Over the weekend, it was reported that an anonymous member of the Mets thought Justin Verlander was a bit of a 'diva' during his brief tenure in Queens.
Per the New York Post:
"The two likely future Hall of Famers — who looked to work toward "harmony," a source told The Post's Mike Puma, after they didn't have the best relationship when they pitched for the Tigers from 2010-14 — still had some bumps in their relationship this season.
A Met told Puma that Verlander was a "diva" who was detached from his Mets teammates and complained about how the team's analytics department was not at the level as the one he worked with during his first stint with the Astros."
The Mets paid the majority of Verlander's 2024 salary to ship him off to Houston. In return, they received a top-100 prospect in Drew Gilbert. JV gets to pitch for a contender, and one he's already familiar with. Meanwhile, New York lands a top prospect who fits their competitive timeline. Everyone wins!
Verlander released a statement in response to the Post's article on Monday.
On the surface, all Verlander said sounds good. Yes, he loved his time in New York. Yes, he wishes the Mets the best. Yes, JV insists he enjoyed playing with new and former teammates. BUT, Verlander still implies there's reason to criticize the Mets analytical staff. That's the tidbit of information Mets fans should pay attention to moving forward.
In fact, Verlander may have a point in the long run. Houston just won the World Series for a reason, perhaps New York needs to catch up.
MLB Rumors: Could Atlanta Braves call up this former MLB All-Star?
The Atlanta Braves could use some pitching help. Ronny Chirinos simply is not cutting it at the back end of the rotation, and it's about time Brian Snitker and Alex Anthopoulos make a move within their minor-league system. There are too many valuable arms at Triple-A Gwinnett to waste, including A.J. Smith-Shawver and Michael Soroka.
Soroka, for one, is a former MLB All-Star back in 2019 prior to undergoing reconstructive surgery on his elbow which forced him out for the better part of two seasons. In a quick MLB cameo this season, Soroka is 2-1 with a 5.52 ERA. He hasn't been great, but Soroka surely deserves a start over Chirinos, who has given up 19 earned runs in his four starts, including 12 earned runs in his past two appearances. Enough is enough.
Soroka, meanwhile, pitched seven innings of shutout baseball in Gwinnett over the weekend. It's impossible to justify keeping Chirinos in the rotation at this juncture, especially with Soroka and Smith-Shawver in the minors, and Kyle Wright on the way back from injury. As Alex Lord of SportsTalk ATL pointed out, fans are calling for Soroka after a recent slide:
"Soroka's 98-pitch effort was his best of the season, allowing just four base runners all night and just one free pass, which has plagued him with the Braves. The club has a wealth of starting pitching, but a recent slump has caused fans to forget this. It might be time for Soroka to get another shot in Atlanta, which could benefit Charlie Morton, Bryce Elder, or Spencer Strider — all of whom could use a bit of rest."
Morton, Elder and Strider have carried the pitching staff all season long. They need some help as Max Fried increases his workload and Kyle Wright works his way back from injury.