Chicago Cubs star outfielder Cody Bellinger found himself on the injured list following a fracture in his left middle finger, an injury sustained during Wednesday's matchup against the Baltimore Orioles. The unfortunate incident occurred in the seventh inning when a pitch from lefty reliever Cionel Perez hit Bellinger, leading to his replacement by Miles Mastrobuoni shortly after.
The Cubs acted promptly to offset Bellinger's absence, recalling Alexander Canario from Triple-A Iowa. The 23-year-old now finds himself thrust into the major league spotlight earlier than anticipated, owing to the injury of one of the team's key contributors. Bellinger, who is set to turn 29 this Saturday, was having a respectable season up to the point of his injury. He was hitting .269/.331/.410 with nine home runs, 37 RBIs, and five stolen bases, contributing an estimated 1.1 Wins Above Replacement according to Baseball Reference's estimates.
A Season of Challenges
Bellinger’s injury isn't the only hurdle facing the Cubs this season. Currently, the team holds a 44-49 record, languishing 10 games behind in the National League Central and 3.5 games short of the NL’s final wild-card spot. The absence of Bellinger, even if temporary, adds to the complex mosaic of challenges as the Cubs navigate an already difficult season.
Moreover, his injury throws a wrench into the team's strategy leading up to the trade deadline. As one insider points out: "With the way the season has spiraled for the Cubs, we think they have to at least contemplate listening to offers for Bellinger." This opens up a myriad of possibilities and concerns for the Cubs' front office, especially given Bellinger’s unique contract structure. His three-year pact allows him to opt out after each season, which means there's “no actual assurance either way that he'll be on Chicago's roster come Opening Day 2025."
Performance Concerns and Contractual Implications
Further complicating the issue is Bellinger's performance, which while solid, hasn't quite matched his 2023 outputs. An insider concedes that "Bellinger isn't having as good of a year as he did in 2023, and teams may have additional concerns about his unusual profile as a result." This could make trade negotiations tricky. Teams might use these concerns to leverage the Cubs into accepting a worse return, or they might fear Bellinger opting in and potentially declining in performance in future seasons.
Despite these concerns, Bellinger remains an above-average contributor, a fact that retains his value in the market. "A well-timed heater between now and the deadline could change things, however, and even in this current reality, he's an above-average contributor capable of standing in center field. That's something," the insider added. The coming weeks will be crucial not just for the Cubs’ season but for Bellinger's future as well.
The Path Ahead
For now, the Cubs must focus on their immediate schedule, which includes wrapping up their series against the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday, followed by a series against the St. Louis Cardinals. As Bellinger recuperates, the onus is on his teammates, including the newly promoted Canario, to step up in his absence. Whether the Cubs can manage to stay afloat in the increasingly competitive National League remains to be seen.
The clock ticks down to the trade deadline, and with every game, the team’s strategy could evolve. Whatever the outcome, the decisions made in these critical weeks will have lasting impacts not just for the remainder of this season but for the future success of the franchise.