It’s pretty ironic that Cody Bellinger was named NL Comeback Player of the Year since, you know, he most likely won’t be coming back to Chicago. But hey, he did exactly what he was hoping for when he eschewed multiyear deals to rebuild his value in a single season with the Cubs. Following three disappointing campaigns with the Dodgers that saw him struggle through shoulder and leg injuries, the former Rookie of the Year and MVP was non-tendered in late 2022.
The Cubs were able to snap him up on a one-year deal worth $17.5 million and the rest is (very brief) history.