Long Shot Phillies Target Agrees To Deal With National League Contender

Unless the Philadelphia Phillies make a surprise move, their offseason looks to be done after the Chicago Cubs' latest signing.

Cody Bellinger is now off the board as Jeff Passan of ESPN reports that the Cubs and Bellinger are in agreement on a three-year, $80 million contract. 

The contract has opt-outs after each of the first two years of the deal, which will pay him $30 million in 2024 and 2025 if he doesn't opt out after the first year.

Bellinger will get $20 million in 2026 if he doesn't opt out after the second year.

The Phillies were a long-shot landing spot for the former NL MVP as they was potentially looking to make one final splash as they head into the regular season. 

With the moves that the Los Angeles Dodgers and others have made this offseason, the Phillies' biggest move turned out to be re-signing one of their top starters Aaron Nola.

Unless the Phillies plan on signing pitchers Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery, it doesn't seem likely that they'll make one last, big move this offleason.

The Cubs re-signed the 2019 MVP after he played well for them in 2023. Bellinger slashed .307/.356/.525 with 26 home runs and a 4.4 WAR last season. Bellinger was named the NL Comeback Player of the year after two miserable seasons in Los Angeles. 

Bob Nightengale of USA Today listed Philadelphia as a sleeper team that could made a push for Bellinger earlier in February.

Others around the industry believed the Phillies could have made a move for a star-level player as there are still multiple on the market. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski can never be counted out when it comes to improving this team.

But with Bellinger, that opportunity is done.