His upside is undeniable. His downside is impossible to discount.
It's a calculation teams in the market for hitting help were forced to consider when pursuing Cody Bellinger this offseason. While this winter's slow-moving market likely depressed the length and total value of Bellinger's deal, ultimately, the Cubs decided the upside was worth the risk, as they reportedly agreed Sunday to bring Bellinger back on a three-year, $80 million contract. The deal reportedly contains opt-outs for Bellinger after the first and second years.
Following Shohei Ohtani's signing with the Dodgers, Bellinger's was the most coveted bat remaining on a meager free-agent market following a resurgent 2023 campaign in Chicago that suggested Bellinger was beyond the hitting and injury woes that plunged him to the depths of his final three seasons in Los Angeles.