Cody Bellinger Picks Up $27.5 Million Player Option With Cubs
Chicago Cubs first baseman and outfielder Cody Bellinger picked up his $27.5 million player option with Chicago on Saturday. He will not become a free agent this offseason and still has one player option remaining on his contract for 2026. Bellinger originally signed a three-year $80 million deal with the Cubs last offseason after flourishing during a "prove it" contract for the 2023 season. The lefty's second season with Chicago was less impressive, though he still posted a strong 111 OPS+. The 29-year-old's expected stats show a bit more concern, though, as his xwOBA for 2024 ranked in just the 32nd percentile. Dynasty managers may not want to make any moves quite yet, but they should certainly keep a close eye on Bellinger's production and temper expectations.
Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger (finger) is starting in right field and is batting cleanup for the Cubbies on Friday at Wrigley Field against the Toronto Blue Jays and rookie right-hander Yariel Rodriguez. Bellinger had been limited to designated-hitter duties for the Cubs since returning from a fractured middle finger on his left hand, but he's feeling good enough now to play defense. Since coming off the injured list on July 30, Bellinger has been swinging a hot bat, batting .320 (16-for-50) with three home runs, a double, nine RBI, a stolen base and nine runs scored in 13 games played. Bellinger returning to the outfield doesn't change much for fantasy managers; he should remain in starting lineups against Rodriguez, a pitcher he has yet to face in his career.
Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger (hamstring) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Chicago White Sox. The lefty slugger was held out of Wednesday's contest due to a minor hamstring issue. It seems that two days of rest has helped as Bellinger will serve as the designated hitter and bat cleanup versus lefty Garrett Crochet. Fantasy managers who have Bellinger rostered can get him back in their lineups on Friday.
Updating a previous report, Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger (hamstring, knee) is dealing with a sore hamstring after stepping on first base awkwardly on Tuesday night and hyperextending his knee. Manager Craig Counsell said the Cubs will see how Bellinger feels as the day progresses, but they wanted to give him a day off on Wednesday because of it. With the Cubs also having an off day on Thursday, there's a chance Bellinger will be feeling good enough to start Friday's series opener against the hosting Chicago White Sox. The 29-year-old left-handed slugger has served as the designated hitter in all eight of his games since he returned from a fractured finger on July 30 and hasn't missed a beat at the plate, going 10-for-32 (.313) with two homers, a double and six RBI. Rookie Pete Crow-Armstrong is making another start in center field on Wednesday against the Minnesota Twins.
Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger is not in the team's starting lineup on Wednesday versus the visiting Minnesota Twins. It appears to be just a normal day off for Bellinger, who has operated as the designated hitter in all eight games since returning from fractured middle finger on his left hand that kept him sidelined for almost three weeks. It remains to be seen how much longer the 29-year-old left-handed hitter will be relegated to DH duties for the Cubs. Bellinger doesn't appear to be dealing with any lingering effects from his fractured finger, though, as he's gone 10-for-32 (.313) with two homers, a double and six RBI in eight games played since coming off the injured list on July 30. Rookie Pete Crow-Armstrong will make another start in center field and will bat eighth on Wednesday against Twins right-hander Joe Ryan.
Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger (finger) is expected to remain as the designated hitter for the time being. The left-handed slugger returned from a fractured index finger last week. Since then, Bellinger is 8-for-24 with two homers, so it doesn't appear that the injury is impacting his swing. However, the Cubs are keeping Bellinger at the DH spot for now. It sounds like Bellinger could move to the outfield or first base towards the end of the week. His glove is certainly an upgrade for this defense, but at least they still have his bat in the lineup.
The Chicago Cubs activated outfielder Cody Bellinger (finger) from the 10-day injured list on Monday before their contest against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds after he went through a long hitting program. The Cubs didn't include Bellinger in their starting lineup on Monday, possibly to avoid him suffering a setback with his fractured finger on the eve of Tuesday's trade deadline. If he's not dealt on Tuesday, though, the left-handed-hitting slugger should be back in Chicago's starting lineup on Tuesday in Game 2 of the series against the Reds. The 29-year-old has had a disappointing 2024 campaign after a major bounce-back season in 2023, in which he slashed .307/.356/.525 with an .881 OPS, 26 homers, 97 RBI and career-high 20 stolen bases. So far through 79 contests in his second year in Chicago, Bellinger is hitting .269 (84-for-312) with nine dingers, 37 RBI and five steals.
Cody Bellinger Could Return For Upcoming Road Trip
Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger (finger) was scheduled to hit and throw at Wrigley Field before Wednesday's series finale against the visiting division-rival Milwaukee Brewers. Manager Craig Counsell said Bellinger could be activated from the 10-day injured list as soon as the team's upcoming road trip, which begins on Friday in Kansas City against the Royals. As long as the 29-year-old doesn't suffer a setback while doing baseball activities this week, he should avoid going on a minor-league rehab assignment and return to the Cubbies this weekend. The Cubs have basically acknowledged that they will be sellers at the July 30 trade deadline, so there's still a chance Bellinger gets dealt now that he's recovered from a fractured left middle finger that has kept him out since mid-July. After bouncing back in his first year in Chicago in 2023, Bellinger hasn't been quite as good in 2024 with a .269/.331/.410 slash line, .742 OPS, nine homers and 37 RBI in 79 games.
Cody Bellinger Takes On-Field Batting Practice Tuesday
Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger (finger) took on-field batting practice ahead of Tuesday's game against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers and "had a really good workout" at Wrigley Field, per manager Craig Counsell. The hitting aspect of Bellinger's rehab has gone well, but the outfielder's throwing progression has gone slower. Counsell said that the Cubs could "absolutely" consider bringing Bellinger back as a designated hitter before he gets back at full strength with throwing on his fractured left middle finger. Bellinger resumed hitting in the cage this past weekend, and it sounds like he's on the verge of beginning an abbreviated minor-league rehab assignment or perhaps being activated from the 10-day injured list in the coming days. The 29-year-old star slugger is a trade candidate ahead of next Tuesday's deadline, slashing .269/.331/.410 with nine home runs, 37 RBI, 39 runs scored, and five stolen bases over 344 plate appearances this year.
Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger (finger) did some running ahead of Friday's series opener against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks and will begin introducing more activities to his daily program in the coming days, according to manager Craig Counsell. Bellinger suffered a non-displaced fracture of his middle finger on July 10 and has been recovering on the 10-day injured list since July 11, but he should be able to return to the Cubs sometime either in late July or early August. Once he resumes all baseball activities, the 29-year-old star slugger could then require a brief minor-league rehab assignment before coming off the IL. Before heading to the shelf, Bellinger was slashing .269/.331/.410 with nine home runs, 37 RBI, 39 runs scored, and five stolen bases over 344 plate appearances and needs to be stashed in all fantasy leagues.
Cody Bellinger
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Cubs
