Cody Bellinger signs 3-year, $80M contract with the Chicago Cubs after former NL MVP 'pushed for $200M deal'

The Chicago Cubs and free agent Cody Bellinger have agreed to a three-year, $80 million contract after the former NL MVP (2019) sought terms around $200M during the offseason.  

ESPN reported late on Saturday that the deal includes opt-outs after each of the first two years. If he stays for the entirety of the length of his new contract, Bellinger will earn $30M in each of the firs two seasons and $20M in the final year.

Bellinger, 28, played for the Cubs on a one-year, $17.5M deal in 2023 and enjoyed a bounce-back season, hitting .307 with 26 home runs, 20 stolen bases and 97 RBIs while playing first base and center field.

Previously, it had been reported that Bellinger's agent - Scott Boras, who represents nearly 200 players - had been lobbying 'for a package well over $200M,' though MLB execs' were unwilling to pay so much for a player dealing with several injury issues in recent years.

Bellinger had also already decided to test the free agent market at that start of the offseason, declining his end of a $25M.

Outfielder / First baseman Cody Bellinger has returned to Chicago after testing free agency

Bellinger's agent Scott Boras, who represents nearly 200 MLB players, sought a huge payday for his client during the offseason but to no avail

'Boras is sticking to the money that was mentioned at the start of the free agency market,' an MLB exec' previously told ESPN. 

'He will take it well into the winter. Not budging.' 

A lingering shoulder injury from the 2020 postseason with the Dodgers led Bellinger to two subpar seasons and his exit from Los Angeles. 

The Arizona native, the 2017 Rookie of the Year and National League MVP in 2019, was a fourth-round pick of the Dodgers in the 2013 draft.

Bellinger's new deal comes after the Cubs agreed to a $53M, four-year deal with Japanese pitcher Shot Imanaga last month 

In seven seasons with the Dodgers (2017-22) and Cubs, Bellinger has hit .258 with 178 homers, 519 RBIs and a .829 OPS.

The Cubs made a big move last month when they agreed to a $53M, four-year contract with Japanese left-hander Shōta Imanaga that could become an $80M, five-year deal.

It had largely been a quiet offseason for Chicago following the hiring of manager Craig Counsell.

The Cubs finished second in the NL Central at 83-79 and missed the postseason by a game after faltering down the stretch last season.