Best Available MLB Players on 2023 Trade Block: Cody Bellinger
The Chicago Cubs are once again getting ready to sell at the trade deadline. Marcus Stroman will most likely be moved, but the Cubs won’t stop there. Former NL MVP Cody Bellinger is back to his old self, which means his name is high up of likely trade candidates.
The Numbers
Stats as of July 21, 2023: .310/.365/.522, 12 HR, 35 RBI, 12 SB, 2.4 WAR
It feels so long ago when Bellinger mashed 47 home runs and won NL MVP in 2019. After that season, the fall-off hit hard. Bellinger struggled to bat above .200, battled injuries and eventually hit free agency and left the Dodgers. He signed a one-year prove-it deal with the Cubs and is having his best season since his MVP run. He’s hitting for average, striking out less and walking more. That strikeout percentage is down to 17.2 percent versus 27.3 percent in 2022. Bellinger’s walk percentage has also leaped from 6.9 percent in 2022 to 8.0 percent through 64 games in 2023. Even by being a rental, Bellinger is getting lots of trade interest from contenders.
Potential Destinations:
The Astros are showing interest in Stroman, and it sounds like Bellinger is on their radar as well. Astros general manager Dana Brown has made it clear the Astros’ biggest needs are starting pitching and a left-handed hitting first baseman or outfielder. They could kill two birds with one stone by acquiring both Stroman and Bellinger in a blockbuster deal. A top prospect such as Drew Gilbert along with a few lower-level prospects or proven major leaguers would likely be the price for both.
Even though the Yankees should be sellers, Brian Cashman will never admit it. For that reason, Bellinger to the Bronx would make perfect sense. Besides Aaron Judge, who’s currently injured, the Yankees’ outfield options absolutely suck. Getting Bellinger not only provides an offensive spark but gives the Yankees outfield something it heavily lacks: High-quality defense.
The same can be said for the Guardians, who are on the fence about buying or selling. As a team, the Guardians are hitting a combined 91 wRC+, which ranks No. 23 across MLB. There’s no pop in that outfield, so throwing Bellinger in there could help the Guardians catch up to the division-leading Twins.
The Verdict
Although the Astros seem ready to make a blockbuster, the Yankees make too much sense. Everyone, including Cashman, knows the Yankees are failures, and that’s exactly why he’d make the trade. He can trade for Bellinger to show fans they’re “trying,” and making a push for the playoffs. The reality is every other team in the AL East is better than the Yankees, and they’ll be lucky to finish above last place. But hey, I wouldn’t mind seeing the Yankees ruin their farm system even more for a two-month rental and missing the playoffs.
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