The Chicago Cubs are reportedly open to exploring deals for star outfielder and former MVP of the National League, Cody Bellinger. With teams potentially preparing packages for the 29-year-old slugger, could the Washington Nationals be a potential fit for him? Let's take a look.
Cody Bellinger's MLB career has had a lot of ups and downs. After breaking onto the scene with the Los Angeles Dodgers and winning NL Rookie of the Year in 2017, his consistency has dynamic in the years since, with an MVP award in 2019 being the peak of his career, followed by a nightmare 2021 season where he accounted for -1.7 WAR. After all of the peaks and valleys with the Dodgers due to injuries and overall regression, he signed a 1-year deal with the Chicago Cubs before the 2023 season, which included an option for the 2024 season as well.
He would bounce back in a big way in 2023, winning the NL Comeback Player of the Year award, as he had a slash line of .307/.356/.525 for an .881 OPS to go along with 26 homers and 97 RBIs. He would be rewarded with a 3-year, $80 million deal with the Cubs after opting out of his initial deal,
Now, he is reportedly being shopped by the Cubs following a solid but unspectacular 2024 season in which he hit 18 homers and had an OPS of .751, which was in large part due to a slow start he endured in the season. But do the Nationals have a chance to land him?
It certainly makes sense on paper, as Bellinger is the sort of toolsy, two-way player that Mike Rizzo would likely covet in a deal, and might not cost as much as you'd think considering his contract. Since his deal currently would need the team that trades for him to be on the hook for $27.5 million in 2025 and potentially another $25 million for 2026 if he opts in to his final year on the deal. Simply put, if he was to perform similarly to how he did in 2024, that would be a mssive overpay for a good but not great player, and could stand to cripple the franchise for a couple of seasons.
Nick Deeds from MLB Trade Rumors lists the Nationals as a "Long Shot" to trade for Bellinger, but states that he could fill an obvious need at either first base, or an extra outfielder should the club need to spell someone in their young trio of outfielders between James Wood, Jacob Young, and Dylan Crews.
Personally, I would be firmly against a trade for Bellinger at this time, but should the club strike out on some of their bigger free agent targets like Alex Bregman, Anthony Santander, or Christian Walker, perhaps a trade for Bellinger would make more sense to add his deal to the team's payroll.
Would you want the Nationals to trade for Cody Bellinger? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.