The 2024 season was quite simple: championship or bust. And unfortunately, the Philadelphia Phillies busted.
Thanks to a 4-1 loss to the rival New York Mets in Queens on Wednesday, the Phillies are headed on vacation far earlier than they would have envisioned. After losing the World Series in 2022, they have been eliminated one round earlier in each of the ensuing years.
Something about the composition of this Phillies lineup needs to change for that elusive championship parade to finally grace Broad Street. And perhaps that signals the signing of a former Most Valuable Player.
The Phillies desperately needed offense from their outfield this season, and Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger has the ability to opt out of his contract and become a free agent. Zachary Pressnell of FanSided urged the Phillies to make a run at Bellinger this winter.
"Bellinger would be a huge upgrade, likely as an everyday outfielder, over what the Phillies have out there right now. The veteran utility man has provided a huge boost to the Cubs over the last few seasons, but he's likely to decline his player option and enter free agency," Pressnell said.
"Chicago will be aggressive to get him back again, but Bellinger likely wants to win and the North Siders haven't been doing much of that."
Bellinger, 29, has had an up-and-down career, and 2024 somehow fell directly in the middle. It wasn't anything close to his 2019 MVP campaign, but he was still a useful player, with a .751 OPS/111 OPS+ and 2.2 wins above replacement.
There is no telling for certain whether Bellinger will opt out of his Cubs contract, though he might make himself more money long-term if he stays. He has a $27.5 million guaranteed salary this year if he opts in, whereas his current Spotrac projection on the open market is four years, $96 million.
If and when Bellinger hits the open market, though, he certainly seems like a prime fit for Philadelphia, which needs one more outfielder to take them over the top. Only time will tell if that is how things play out.
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