Cubs $80 million superstar predicted to stay in Chicago in 2025

The Chicago Cubs have some tough decisions to make over the next few months, with the playoffs dwindling down.

Chicago missed the playoffs and now needs to go back to the drawing board and figure out a path forward for the 2025 season. Although the Cubs have some tough decisions to make, there are decisions for players to make as well.

Cubs star outfielder Cody Bellinger has a $27.5 million player option for the 2025 season. He signed a three-year, $80 million deal with the club last offseason, and now he has to decide whether to opt into the deal or enter free agency with the hope of earning more elsewhere.

It's too early to know what he will do, but Spotrac's Michael Ginnitti predicted that Bellinger will end up picking up the deal for 2025.

"Cody Bellinger (outfielder/first baseman, Cubs)," Ginnitti said. "The 29-year-old secured $27.5M from the Cubs in 2024, but his production dropped off about 40 percent from his 2023 resurrection season. Bellinger has a $27.5M option for 2025, then another $25M option in 2026 thereafter. Prediction: Opt-In."

Bellinger is an important piece for the Cubs, and if they are going to make it back to the playoffs in 2025, it likely will mean that he opted into the deal. The Cubs need to improve their offense, and Bellinger returning in 2025 certainly would help with that and make the offseason a little easier.

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