When Jed Hoyer traded Cody Bellinger in December, he freed up $25 million in actual payroll and nearly $24 million in CBT payroll. The Cubs went over the first luxury tax threshold last season, in part due to re-signing Bellinger, and all signs are that they do not intend to be repeat offenders. Fans were understandably concerned that the Bellinger trade was a pure salary dump despite the front office saying they would reallocate the money, and we’re still waiting for those funds to be used.
The Cubs still have around $30 million, just a little more than Bellinger’s entire salary, before they hit the first penalty tier.