Cubs Rumors: 4 Teams Linked To Strong Cody Bellinger Free Agency Pursuit

The Cody Bellinger Revival Tour carries on this September, as the former NL MVP continues to show that he is back—pretty much all the way back to being an impact player as he was in his MVP year of 2019. Three years of injuries and poor performance are history now. 

As a free agent this coming winter, he'll be heavily in demand. Bellinger now sits at an incredible .320 average with a .366 on-base, a .549 slugging and a .915 OPS (OPS+ 141), with 22 HR, 80 RBIs and 19 SBs. And don't forget about that defense in center field.

“He’s just must-watch television at this point," Cubs All-Star pitcher Justin Steele says. “Everybody saw what he did in the past. We know what he did. Winning the MVP is not easy, what he did with the Dodgers is nothing short of amazing. 

“He’s proving what kind of player he is. The guy is just an unbelievable talent.’

The Chicago Cubs would certainly like to keep Belli, and will be strong contenders to re-sign him, seeing as how they believed in him and how he performed there. But it remains to be seen what other offers come in. And according to MLB Insider Bob Nightengale, there are three other teams he sees as potentially strong suitors to woo him from the Cubs.

The Giants, who have been trying for years to lure a big star to San Francisco, figure to offer him the most money. The Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees could be jumping in, too. 

The Giants offered last year's MVP Aaron Judge $360M to come to The Bay, but he chose to stay in the Big Apple. The Red Sox need a serious jolt to their squad to get back into serious contention in the tough AL East. And the Yankees... well, they're the Yankees, and there's no doubt they'll get in on the bidding, with center field wide open for the taking for 2023 (though rookie phenom Jasson Dominguez got off to a rocking start Friday night in his first game in the majors). 

No doubt, Bellinger's one-year 'bet on yourself' contract with the Cubs will be paying off handsomely for him this coming winter.  

Photo: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports