Cody Bellinger understands what this offseason could entail.
The Chicago Cubs slugger initially got a taste of free agency when the Los Angeles Dodgers nontendered him after 2022 leading to a one-year pillow contract that brought him to the North Side. But last year represented a different opportunity — his free-agency process featured the type of multiyear financial security that came from a bounce-back season after he declined his end of a mutual option with the Cubs and before ultimately signing a three-year, $80 million contract to return to the team.
Now another decision awaits Bellinger.
Bellinger has until five days after the World Series ends to decide whether to pick up his player option and remain with the Cubs or again test free agency. The 29-year-old would earn $27.5 million on his player option for 2025, which has a $2.5 million buyout. And there is another wrinkle: If he stays, Bellinger could become a free agent next offseason through the same means. He holds a $25 million player option for 2026 with a $5 million buyout.
Bellinger told the Tribune on Wednesday that he hasn’t made a decision yet to stay or go.
“I honestly haven’t,” Bellinger said. “You think about it, but at the end of the day, I haven’t really even sat down with my wife and talked about it. And during the season, you just focus on playing, at least for me. I wake up and I’m going to go out and play, and that’s what I focus on. … I honestly have no idea.”
Bellinger feels more knowledgeable about the process after last offseason and said he trusts his agent, Scott Boras. He’s not putting a timeframe on his decision beyond the deadline of when he must inform the Cubs and league.
“For me, if I feel like I have a decision, I’ll probably wait on it, see if I still feel it, just really feel it out and trust my gut, trust people around me,” Bellinger said. “It’s a privilege, so I’m going to do it with joy and see what happens.”
Bellinger didn’t delve too deeply on what he will prioritize when deciding, but if playing for a winning team proves to a factor, he believes in where the Cubs are at even though they fell short of the postseason.
“I know we’re good enough, trust me, that’s what’s the frustrating part,” Bellinger said. “I’ve been on good teams, and I know this team is good enough. Throughout a 162-game season, stuff happens and you have to kind of understand how to manage those bumps in the road.”
Heading into the final series of the season, Bellinger owns a .267/.326/.429 slash line with 18 home runs, 23 doubles and 78 RBIs in 128 games.
“These past two years have been incredible,” Bellinger said. “I owe a lot to a lot of people that have helped me and I feel really, really good with where I’m at. And to get me back on track, I’ve learned a tremendous amount about myself and a lot of people I owe that to here.”
His power numbers aren’t where he would ideally like them to be, with fewer doubles and home runs and a lower OPS+ than in 2023, though his September production has seen an increase in slug after it dipped in August. Bellinger has been pleased with his bat speed this month, more on par with his expectation, and he feels like he’s in a good spot. He won’t make excuses about how his two injuries — a pair of fractured ribs in late April and a fractured left middle finger in July — affected his offensive production.
Bellinger came back from both stints on the injured list as soon as possible, even as the bones from each incident continued to heal and he was not 100%.
“There’s some injuries where you can’t play past, like last year with my knee, I couldn’t physically run until I could run,” Bellinger said. “There’s pain and just understanding how the body will compensate, counteracting that. For me, if I can play, I’m going to be out there and play. I want to help this team and produce. Sitting on the bench, it’s no good, it’s boring. You feel useless. So if I could play and I can figure it out, I’ll go out and play.”
Bellinger’s determination and willingness to get back out on the field as soon as possible did not go unappreciated or unnoticed by the staff or his teammates.
“When players like Cody are out, it affects a lot — they’re not really replaceable,” manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday. “Both (injury) instances he got back faster than than I think we all envisioned and to in order to do that, he played through some pain, frankly, just straight up pain. And he’s not going to get make an excuse for that. But it affects you. How much it affects you, when it affects you, I don’t think we can answer that. But he did it, and I know him being back in the lineup made us better.”
If Bellinger opts for free agency and signs elsewhere during the offseason, the Cubs could use that money to strengthen other parts of the roster, especially on the pitching side. His departure would open playing time for Seiya Suzuki again after he was relegated to the designated hitter role with Pete Crow-Armstrong and Bellinger manning center and right field for most of the final six weeks of the season.
Bellinger’s decision will be the first big step influencing the different paths the Cubs front office will take this offseason to improve a playoff-less roster.
