The Chicago Cubs have had a confusing season, and they'll have pivotal roster choices to make this winter.
With president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer literally fighting for his job over the next calendar year, he'll be thinking long and hard about what to do with valuable pieces like Jameson Taillon and Cody Bellinger.
Bellinger presents an interesting scenario for Hoyer. The former National League MVP and two-time All-Star can elect to opt out of his contract at the end of this season.
Which contractual path Bellinger will take is reportedly still a mystery to the Cubs, meaning that Hoyer could choose to extend Bellinger's deal in the meantime and re-route the entire process.
Would this be a wise move for Hoyer and Chicago's future? At least one insider thinks not.
Reporting for The Athletic, leading Cubs analyst Sahadev Sharma declared on Friday that Chicago should not extend Belly, even suggesting that it might be good for the Cubs if Bellinger were to opt out.
"I see no reason for the Cubs to try and extend Bellinger," Sharma said. "They have multiple outfield prospects they’d like to get a look at, and right now he’s their fifth-best bat by wRC+ behind Suzuki, Busch, Paredes and Ian Happ."
"If he opts in, it wouldn’t be a bad thing. They can always use a lefty hitter who can play multiple positions and has an above-average offensive profile. But Bellinger opting out certainly would give them more flexibility this winter with how much they can spend and what they can do with the roster."
Sharma makes some respectable points, especially since it's clear the Cubs roster -- albeit filled with talent -- needs a shakeup.
For whatever reason, Chicago's mixture of players has not produced a winning formula at Wrigley Field in 2024, and the National League Central is only getting better.
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