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The New York Yankees have “had conversations” about trading for Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger, but the Cubs are “firmly on the fence” about whether the team will be selling or buying at the deadline, an industry source told ESPN’s Buster Olney.
The Yankees’ outfield was left exposed in the absence of Aaron Judge, who made his return to the field Friday. Trading for a former Gold Glove winner in Bellinger could help pad the team’s outfield depth, depending on if the Cubs decide to make him available.
Bellinger has a career-high batting average of .319 through 72 games and would be a vital part of the Cubs’ playoff push if they decide to make a run at the postseason.
The Cubs and Yankees are both three-and-a-half games back of a wild card spot with three days remaining until the August 1 deadline.
Bellinger is currently on a $12 million deal with a mutual option for 2024.
Do the Cubs believe Bellinger, who is batting .427 through the month of July, can maintain his current hot streak? His contact rate is up but his average exit velocity is down, as pointed out by CBS Sports’ R.J. Anderson, raising the question of how long that pace can continue.
Prior to arriving in Chicago, Bellinger batted .165 and .210 in two seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Another question to consider before making a decision on Bellinger is the club’s chances of competing in the postseason. The Cubs are currently on a seven-game winning streak that has led them to rethink their status as trade deadline sellers and consider keeping Bellinger and pitcher Marcus Stroman, according to the New York Post‘s Jon Heyman.
Because of his .319/.369/.546 slash line following two down seasons with the Dodgers, it seems likely Bellinger will eschew his mutual option in 2024 in favor of getting a more favorable deal on the open market.
That means if Chicago misses the playoffs without moving Bellinger first, they risk losing him for nothing. At the same time, other clubs know the likelihood that Bellinger will be a rental, potentially lowering the ceiling of the Cub’s asking price.
The Cubs’ decision on Bellinger could come down to how the club performs in these last three games before the Tuesday deadline. Chicago faces the St. Louis Cardinals twice this weekend before taking on the Cincinnati Reds on Monday.
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