Report: Cody Bellinger returning to Cubs on a 3-year deal

(670 The Score) The Cubs’ biggest bat will be back in their lineup on a daily basis in 2024.

Star outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger has agreed to an three-year, $80-million deal to return to the Cubs, Jeff Passan of ESPN reported early Sunday. The deal includes opt-outs after each of the first two seasons. Bellinger signed a one-year deal with the Cubs ahead of the 2023 season with the intention of re-establishing his value before hitting free agency again, and he cashed in after a terrific season.

Bellinger, 28, hit .307 with 26 homers, 97 RBIs, 20 steals and an .881 OPS in 130 games in 2023 while also playing stellar defense in center field and at first base. When the 2024 season opens, Bellinger will likely man center field most often after the Cubs recently indicated their preference is to use newly acquired infielder Michael Busch at first base.

Bellinger’s value to the Cubs was immense and also reflected in their performance with and without him in 2023. With Bellinger in their lineup, the Cubs were 69-61 and averaged 5.3 runs per games. In games he didn’t play, they were 14-18 and averaged 3.9 runs per game. The Cubs went 83-79 in 2023, and losing Bellinger would've been a huge blow to their hopes of competing at a high level in 2024.

Bellinger was the 2019 National League MVP while playing for the Dodgers. He later endured poor 2021 and 2022 seasons, leading Los Angeles to let him go and setting his course to Chicago.

The Blue Jays, Giants and Mariners were among the other clubs that had expressed interest in Bellinger earlier in the free agency process, but as the winter wore on without much movement in his market, the belief grew throughout MLB that he would return to the Cubs.

“He really enjoyed the city of Chicago, enjoyed being a Cub,” Bellinger’s agent, Scott Boras, told 670 The Score in December. “Always, these decisions really tender on the idea how competitive ownership wants to be to acquire the best players.”