The Chicago Cubs are predicted to be very active before the July 30th deadline.
The Chicago Cubs have not had the season they hoped for in 2024.
After being projected to win the NL Central division at the beginning of the season, the team's front office now has made remarks that they will be looking towards improving the team in 2025 at this year's MLB Trade Deadline.
With that being said, many players will be up for grabs for contending teams before the July 30th deadline and one of the team's outfielders has grown some interest across the league.
According to the Athletic, Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger is considered the 18th most likely player and No. 10 Bat to be dealt at the MLB Trade Deadline.
Here is what the staff had to say about the likelihood of him being moved.
One of the sport’s toughest evaluations is thus one of its toughest trade targets: Which version of Cody Bellinger do you most believe in? How healthy will he be following a broken finger? Just how many games of Bellinger might you be trading for? All those factors, combined with the Cubs’ still-beating chances in the NL, conspire against a deal involving the one-time MVP. Desperate teams, however, have made crazier moves.
So far this season, Bellinger is hitting .269/.331/.410 with nine home runs and 37 RBIs. It is not as great of a season as the one he had last season, but could provide a contending team with depth not only in the outfield but at first base as well. Whoever decides to take a chance on Bellinger for a postseason run will have to treat him as a half-season rental. He has two years left on his contract but has potential outs on both of those years after signing late this past offseason.
Bellinger has six seasons worth of postseason experience when he was a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He collected 69 games in his postseason career and recorded a .211/.285/.376 with nine homers and 33 RBIs.
The Athletic gave three possible landing spots for Bellinger the Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, or Seattle Mariners. All three teams listed could use help in the outfield especially Atlanta who was dealt a major blow at the beginning of the season with the loss of Ronald Acuna Jr. for the year.
The Cubs outfielder is currently on the 10-day injured list with a fractured middle finger, but according to manager Craig Counsell, there is a good chance he will be activated in time for their next series on the road against the Kansas City Royals.
