Let’s Talk About Tom Rickett’s Comments on Cody Bellinger

Are the Chicago Cubs going to sign Cody Bellinger? I don’t know, but Cubs owner Tom Rickett’s comments about the situation did not give me much hope. In case you missed his comments, a reporter asked him about the Bellinger situation, and he said, “there’s been some discussions, but it hasn’t become a negotiation yet,”

What? What do you mean there have been talks but no negotiations? Does Jed Hoyer go in and ask Bellinger about life and non-baseball-related things? Surely there have been some negotiations. Bellinger was crucial to the Cubs success last year, which I even hesitate to call success. Bellinger himself had a great season, but the Chicago Cubs ultimately failed last season by not even making the playoffs. I’d also argue that the Cubs have gotten worse this offseason. Hiring Craig Counsell was awesome, and I think he will provide a few more wins than any other manager. However, the Chicago Cubs do not have an elite bat in the middle of the lineup to win you games.

Ian Happ has been successful in the three-hole, but his season last year certainly left more to be desired. Christopher Morel is electric, but his inconsistencies with the bat make it difficult to keep him in the three-hole every day. The acquisition of Michael Busch was really exciting, but he is still young and has a lot of growing to do. Our expectation should not be that Michael Busch will be able to just step in and be the third hitter in the lineup for the Chicago Cubs. Seiya Suzuki has the potential to bat there but has again shown too many inconsistencies in his first two seasons in the MLB, plus has struggled with injuries. The third batter in the lineup should be your best hitter, the guy who wants to be up there in the RBI situations. They should be the guy who has the potential to hit 30+ homeruns and bat above .280. I don’t look at a player on the Chicago Cubs and deem them to be a three-hole hitter.

The Chicago Cubs need a gamechanger. Cody Bellinger is that guy. AND he is available. The Chicago Cubs are one of the biggest market teams in the league. Jed needs to learn how to spend money eventually. I expected a lot more out of the Cubs in the market this offseason considering Jed Hoyer has not proven he can put out a successful Chicago Cubs team. I felt like this was his prove-it year, where he was going to make the big offseason signings that would push the Cubs from missing the playoffs by one game to, not only making the playoffs, but competing in the playoffs. It is not enough to just make the playoffs. This fanbase is the best in the world, and it deserves to win consistently. The clock is ticking, Jed. And Tom – if you aren’t willing to put the enormous amount of money you make on everything Cubs related towards the team on the field, then this great franchise is not for you. This isn’t Oakland, this is the Chicago Cubs.