Cody Bellinger #24 of the Chicago Cubs
For the fourth consecutive season, the Chicago Cubs have missed out on postseason baseball in 2024, and now the franchise appears ready to make significant changes. With the team’s playoff drought stretching to nearly a decade, no player on the roster is safe, and trade rumors are swirling around several key figures.
After two-time Silver Slugger Cody Bellinger opted into a $27.5 million player option for 2025, the Cubs have fielded calls from the New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, and Houston Astros, according to 670 The Score. And while Bellinger’s name may be at the forefront of these discussions, veterans like Nico Hoerner, Seiya Suzuki, and Jameson Taillon are also being mentioned in trade speculations. The 2024 Cubs may be on the verge of a major roster overhaul.
The Case for Trading Bellinger
Bellinger’s future in Chicago has been a topic of heated debate ever since he re-established himself as one of the most dynamic players in baseball following his MVP season with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019. In 2024, he continued to show why he’s considered one of the league’s most valuable players, both with his bat and as a versatile defender. Bellinger’s ability to play all three outfield positions and even first base makes him a coveted piece for any contender.
His player option for 2025 was always seen as a potential trade chip, and now, with Bellinger’s strong play continuing into the offseason, the Cubs’ front office faces a difficult decision. Should they keep their MVP-caliber outfielder and try to build around him, or should they cash in on his value and reload for the future?
The Yankees, Mariners, and Astros — all teams with postseason aspirations — could provide the Cubs with a significant return for Bellinger, especially if they’re willing to take on his $27.5 million salary. While a deal involving a player of Bellinger’s caliber might seem unthinkable, Cubs fans have seen big names depart in the past — including Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, and Javier Báez — and the business of baseball means no one is truly untouchable.
Jameson Taillon Reflects on the Situation
Amid the trade rumors, Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon spoke candidly to The Athletic about the situation, acknowledging that the team’s disappointing performance in 2024 has contributed to the trade speculation.
“We kind of, in a way, did this to ourselves,” Taillon said. “It’s not like we were a 100-win team and you’re seeing names thrown out there. Look, we ran a pretty similar team out there back-to-back years and we didn’t make the playoffs. So you can’t really sit here and be upset when you see things because we need to get better.”
Taillon, who signed a four-year, $68 million deal with the Cubs in 2022, has become the type of highly-paid veteran who could be moved as the team looks to shake things up. However, it’s Bellinger who has dominated trade talk due to his potential on the field, his ability to contribute in multiple roles, and his relatively short-term contract.
Taillon, who knows how the trade market works all too well, issued a warning to the Cubs front office regarding Bellinger’s value.
“It’s crazy to talk about a former MVP like this, but he’s the ultimate insurance policy because he can play all over,” Taillon said. “In the offseason, it might sound like a good idea or whatever, salary-wise, but you have a guy that can play all over the field. You just hope you don’t have an unfortunate situation in-season where you’re like, ‘Man, we wish we had Cody.’ We’ll see what happens.”
Taillon’s concerns reflect the uneasy reality that the Cubs face: trading a player like Bellinger, while tempting from a financial and rebuilding standpoint, could come with unforeseen consequences if they find themselves short-handed during the season.
What’s Next for the Cubs?
The Cubs have already made one move this offseason, signing starting pitcher Matthew Boyd, but the rest of the winter is expected to bring more changes — or at least more speculation. If the Cubs decide to make significant alterations to their roster, it’s possible that Bellinger will be the first domino to fall. His potential trade could set the tone for the rest of the offseason, influencing how the Cubs address other areas of need.
For the Cubs, this is a critical moment. After failing to make the playoffs for another season, the pressure is mounting to shake up a roster that has underperformed despite the presence of stars like Bellinger, Hoerner, and Suzuki. Whether the Cubs stick with their core players and continue to try to build for the future or pivot to a full-scale rebuild by moving a player like Bellinger, the front office’s decisions in the coming weeks could shape the franchise’s trajectory for years to come.
As for Bellinger, his future in Chicago remains uncertain, but if the Cubs do decide to move him, they’ll be sending out one of the game’s most dynamic players in search of a better future — one that may or may not include a postseason berth. Cubs fans will undoubtedly be hoping that, in the end, their team doesn’t regret letting go of one of their best players.
