At long last, Cody Bellinger's contract stalemate is over.
ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Sunday that Bellinger agreed to return to the Chicago Cubs on a three-year, $80 million contract that features opt-outs after the first and second years. Passan noted "a robust market never materialized" as agent Scott Boras negotiated for him, which likely allowed Chicago to bring him back on a relatively team-friendly deal.
Chicago is surely thrilled, as it improved its chances of winning a National League Central division that looks quite mediocre on paper.
Bellinger has been up and down at times throughout his career as the 2019 National League MVP but also someone who had to sign a one-year prove-it deal last offseason after multiple seasons of struggling.