The Philadelphia Phillies entered the 2024 season with high hopes for a championship, but their journey ended early after being eliminated by the New York Mets in the NLDS. As they turn their attention to building their roster for 2025, could they target outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger?
On October 24, Jim Bowden of The Athletic discussed potential landing spots and contract projections for 45 MLB players who could become free agents this winter. He named the Phillies as one of the top “best team fits” for Bellinger, the 2019 National League MVP, alongside eight other teams, including the Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Angels, Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Washington Nationals.
Bellinger spent the 2024 season with the Cubs, posting a .266/.325/.426 slash line with 18 home runs, 23 doubles, 78 RBIs, and 72 runs scored. Bowden predicts that Bellinger will sign a four-year, $112 million deal in free agency.
Cody Bellinger Could Be the Perfect Fit for the Phillies
Phillies president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski, made it clear after the season that the team is open to improving its roster. “I do think it’s a club capable of winning a world championship,” Dombrowski said, as reported by MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki. “You’re also open-minded to making adjustments… our goal is to make our club better.”
One area the Phillies could address is the outfield. As a group, their outfielders posted a 97 wRC+, ranking 18th in the league, according to FanGraphs. Center field was especially problematic, with Brandon Marsh, Johan Rojas, Cal Stevenson, and Cristian Pache collectively recording an 80 wRC+, tied for the sixth-worst in MLB.
Bowden pointed out that while Bellinger’s offensive performance has been inconsistent in recent years, his ability to play solid defense at all three outfield spots and first base enhances his value on the open market.
Will Cody Bellinger Opt Out of His Contract?
Before Bellinger can entertain offers from teams like the Phillies, he must first decide whether to opt out of his current contract with the Cubs. After winning a Silver Slugger Award in 2023, Bellinger entered free agency hoping for a significant payday. He and his agent, Scott Boras, were initially seeking a contract worth over $200 million, but that offer never materialized. Instead, Bellinger signed a three-year, $80 million deal with the Cubs that includes an opt-out clause after each of the next two seasons, according to Spotrac.
As of late September, Bellinger hadn’t made up his mind about opting out. In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, he admitted, “I honestly haven’t (made a decision). You think about it, but at the end of the day, I haven’t really even sat down with my wife and talked about it. During the season, you just focus on playing.”
He continued, “If I feel like I have a decision, I’ll probably wait on it, see if I still feel it, just really feel it out and trust my gut, trust people around me.”
Though much may have changed since those comments, Bellinger’s decision remains uncertain. It’s clear that he has not made a firm choice as the offseason approaches, unlike third baseman Matt Chapman, who decided to sign an extension with the Giants before the offseason even began.