The Chicago Cubs made a significant offseason acquisition by re-signing slugger Cody Bellinger for the 2024 season, a move that bolstered their lineup and addressed a void in left-handed hitting and power left by his departure in free agency. Despite initial expectations of a lucrative contract, Bellinger returned to the Cubs on an $80 million deal with opt-outs after two years.
Some observers, like Jordan Campbell of Cubbies Crib, believe that by bringing Bellinger back, the Cubs did a favor to superagent Scott Boras, who represents him. Previously, there were perceptions of a strained relationship between Cubs’ president of baseball operations, Jed Hoyer, and Boras, fueled by a lack of deals with Boras’s clients. However, Bellinger’s signing may signal a shift in that dynamic, potentially opening the door for the Cubs to pursue other Boras clients like Jordan Montgomery or Blake Snell.
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While the Cubs may not be frontrunners for these players, there’s speculation about their interest in adding another starting pitcher, with Jon Heyman listing them as a possibility for signing Montgomery. Currently below the luxury tax threshold, the Cubs seem hesitant to exceed it unless they become serious contenders by the trade deadline. However, they may reconsider if the asking price for a pitcher like Montgomery becomes more favorable.
Campbell suggests that a shorter-term deal with opt-outs could be appealing to the Cubs, providing both flexibility and the potential for significant help from a player like Montgomery. While such a move might push them over the luxury tax threshold, it could still be worthwhile if it strengthens their roster. Despite potential surprises in the late stages of the offseason, the longer Montgomery remains unsigned, the better the chances for the Cubs to secure him on favorable terms.
