Cody Bellinger had earlier declined a mutual option in 2023 with the Cubs and thus became a free-agent.
Cody Bellinger (Image via LA Times)
It has finally happened. After weeks and months of speculation, free-agent Cody Bellinger has at last made a decision regarding his career. The 2020 World Series winner has agreed to rejoin the Chicago Cubs on a three-year, $80 million deal.
Following the end of his tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he would join the Cubs on a one-year contract. This came after he suffered a massive drop in form which led to the Dodgers non-tendering him and making him a free agent.
The 2023 season saw some resurgence in his form. He would manage to find back his hitting ability and smashed 26 home runs and picked up a total of 97 RBIs. This performances earned him the National League Comeback Player of the Year award.
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At the end of the season, he declined a mutual option and became a free agent again. A number of teams including the Cubs themselves chased after him. Earlier he and his top agent Scott Boras were seeking a $250 million deal.
With time running out and the resumption of Spring training, Boras and his client decided to extend their stay in Chicago. According to reports from MLB, Bellinger will earn $30 million in 2024, $30 million in 2025 (if he does not option out) and $20 million in 2026 (if he stays with the team after the 2025 season).
Related: When is Shohei Ohtani going to make his debut for Los Angeles Dodgers?
Fans react to Cody Bellinger re-signing with Cubs
In the MLB offseason, the news regarding Cody Bellinger’s team for the 2024 season was one of the most anticipated ones. After he declined the mutual option with the Chicago Cubs, fans where eager to see where he would end up next.
 100vw, 1200px” data-lazy-src=”https://firstsportz.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Cody-Bellinger-2.jpg” />Cody Bellinger (Image via Chicago Sun-Times)<br />
The 2017 NL Rookie of the Year will now stay in Chicago and re-join the squad. As the report from <strong>Jeff Passan</strong> broke out late night, social media users have gone in frenzy mode.</p>
<p>While some fans are happy to see him return, some brutally trolled him and his agent Scott Boras for not securing the contract they had initially hoped for. One user would react to this and wrote, “<em>Went from $250M to not even nine digits</em>” and laughed at his camp.</p>
<p>Check out some more reactions regarding this deal from X below:</p>
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Bellinger will now be hoping to silence his critics and bounce back emphatically in the 2024 season. He will have an important role to play this year as the Cubs push for a playoff spot while battling it out in the NL Central division.
