So if the Cubs aren’t going to re-sign Kyle Tucker — and I do not believe they will — then how about a reunion with Cody Bellinger?
Bellinger had a very good 2025 with the Yankees, batting .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs in 152 games. That was worth 5.1 bWAR.
Yes, it was skewed a bit by Yankee Stadium, perhaps the most lefty-hitter friendly park in MLB.
Bellinger at home: .302/.365/.544 with 18 home runs in 80 games
Bellinger on the road: .241/.301/.414 with 11 home runs in 72 games
Well. That doesn’t
sound conducive to bringing Bellinger back to Wrigley Field. On the other hand, Bellinger batted .302/.354/.548 with 14 home runs in 66 games at Wrigley in 2023, pretty close to his 2025 Yankee Stadium numbers. He was significantly worse at home in 2024, with just a .700 OPS in 65 games, but then, almost all Cubs hitters were bad at home in ‘24, posting just a .670 OPS at Wrigley while having a .747 OPS in away games that year.
Bellinger played all three outfield positions in 2025 with the Yankees as well as some first base — not a single game as DH, though, as that was mostly Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge and Ben Rice.
He could split right field and DH with Seiya Suzuki and also cover center field, left field and first base. A backup first baseman to Michael Busch doesn’t necessarily have to hit right-handed.
Bellinger has also cut way down on his strikeouts and I think he’d be an asset both offensively and defensively for the Cubs.
You will, of course, remember his three-homer game against the Cubs last July, and you might also recall him being robbed of a fourth homer — by Tucker! [VIDEO]
So why not bring that guy back to Wrigley Field? All the prognosticators have Bellinger going back to the Yankees, and sure, that’s possible, but why not a reunion in Chicago? He very much liked playing for the Cubs:
Here’s what Bellinger said in that post, if you didn’t click through:
Maybe you think that doesn’t matter. I think it does.
MLB Trade Rumors projects Bellinger for five years and $140 million. I’d do that. Would you?
