Could the Chicago Cubs reunite with CODY BELLINGER?

Could the Chicago Cubs reunite with CODY BELLINGER?

reunited and it feels so good. Cody Bellinger could be a return fit for the Cubs. You are Locked on Cubs, your daily Chicago Cubs podcast, part of the Locked On podcast network. Your team every day. You are locked on Cubs, part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day alongside Samber. I’m Matt Cozy. Sam and I are lifelong fans taking our passion into a discussion with you on all things Cubs. Today’s episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now, new customers can bet just $5. And if your bet wins, you’ll get $300 in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app today. Pending breaking news, we are dropping an episode on Thanksgiving Day revealing the top 25 Cubs of the last 25 years. We will preview that episode later this episode. Uh we’ll also get into the best and worst Thanksgiving food, former Cubs who are possible candidates to return with the Cubs as free agents this off season. And we start with one of those candidates right now. Cody Bellinger, who rebounded in a big way with the Cubs in 23, returned and played pretty well in 24, and then played very well with the Yankees in 25. The former NL MVP is a free agent again this off season. Could be a fit with the Cubs. Bellinger with the Yankees slashed 272 334 480 with 29 home runs though 18 of them were at the pool happyappy Yankee Stadium. Sam two questions. One, how could Bellinger fit with the Cubs in 26 and beyond? And two, could you see the Cubs going after him in the first place? I’ll start with one and two together. The answer is I don’t see it. Um, and the reason I don’t see it isn’t anything to do with the Cubs at all. Um, if this were to happen, I think it would be very similar to the 2024 situation where Bellinger’s out of options, Cubs might sneakily add some money late, find a way to get a good deal, etc., etc., etc. The reason why I don’t think this happens is because I think it was, was it was it Stein Brener, House Steinbrer? Somebody came out with the Yankees yesterday. Hal Steinbrer Steinbrunner and said, “Hey, you know, we need a lower payroll.” And so basically to me that takes them out of Wow. You’re the Yankees. That takes them out. Well, obviously that’s why I asked Cap that there’s something going on financially with some of these big francher said they’re not making a profit, right? So, is he a liar or is baseball in big trouble? No, neither. Neither. Neither. Um, we could do a business course off the air. I just don’t have that degree. Um, I just think Bellinger’s going back to the Yankees. It makes so much sense, right? It does. Yeah. Now, now that they’re not going to pay big money for Tucker, they go back to Bellinger. And Bellinger, it’s just his skill set fits perfectly there. Uh, you read the numbers. his skill set doesn’t fit well at Wrigley Field. It just doesn’t anymore with with the with the way Lefty said. A lot of his home runs are wall scrapers. Um he doesn’t get into the ball like he did. But but at Yankee Stadium, they’re upper deck shots. Uh he’s a great guy to have hit behind Judge. I I just think that to to me, I just think those two are going to have a a a reunion. And if they don’t and we get to the point where it’s like early February again, that’s when I think this conversation would really have some merit. But right now, I expect Bellinger to be wearing pinstripes, just not Cubs pinstripes. Well, in February of 24 that news broke at like 1 or 2 a.m. I did a show. I got I I got out of bed. I was literally in bed. Got out of bed and did a live 10 to 15. Yeah, it was phenomenal, man. I don’t remember it being phenomenal, but I remember doing it. He really benefited from from Yankee Stadium like we forecasted. Oh, yeah. I mean, really, really benefited from it. Do you have the splits? Uh, I don’t have the I know he hit 18 of the 29 homers at Yankee Stadium. I’ll get the splits. But what’s interesting about the splits, Sam, from 25 is just how prolific Bellinger is at the platoon splits. It’s less like the he had 353 against lefties with a 1.01 353 and 244 verse righties. He had a 909 OPS at home 715 on the road. Yo, so if you’re looking for a guy that could hit lefties, he’s the guy. Yeah, ironically. That’s a great point. I I hear you. That’s a great point. He had a career low strikeout rate of 137. No, I think Bellinger is a good hitter. I I I think Bellinger is a good player. I think he’s a great fit. I just don’t think he’s a guy you build your whole offense around. I just think he’s a perfect fit in in the Bronx. I I I really do. I think the Mets are going to go hard after him, too. That’d be a mistake by the Mets. That’d be a mistake. Um I I don’t Yeah. Yeah. I don’t I think they’re going to be looking at at Tucker hard. Okay. Um but no, I think Bellinger’s in a great spot. I mean, he’s going to sit and wait for Tucker to get paid. So Bellinger is someone who’s going to have to wait for Tucker. I think so. I think Tucker will set the market w with a three in front of it and then Bellinger will seek a two. He doesn’t deserve that. No offense. He’s not going to get that. And and then he’ll get something in the in the mid ones or or or mid high ones. And I think the Yankees will be glad to pay that. Yeah. That’s where that’s where MLB trade so MLB trade rumors has him at a figure that I think the Cubs should be all over. Can I guess it? Yeah. I haven’t looked at it. Right. Um, I’m gonna say MLB Trade Rumors has him at six for one 150. Five for 140. That was close. Yeah, he’s No, he acted like I was five years off. And the Athletic has him seven for 182. So, I’m right in the middle. My biggest takeaway from our cap episode, Sam, was the Cubs will not go beyond seven years on a player. We know that because Cap told us that Ricketts told him that privately. And number two, Swanson got seven years. He’s their last big deal. So, it’s seven or less for the Cubs. Let’s see who they can get uh you know, for two years, three years. Uh you know, they they won’t go a fifth year to Schwarber. Okay, great. Then you’re not going to get them. So, wait, let me ask you a question, though. Say the trade room. I also think the Phillies might play some musical chairs. They could be if Schwarber goes to the Red Sox or Schwber goes to the Cubs, Bellinger might go to Philly. I agree with that. Can you Can you tell me what MLB trade rumors was? Five for what? 140. Why would you just give that to Schwarber? Oh, I hope they do, man. Schwarber 56 homers last year and they’re not wall scrapers. He can hit a home run into right center. I never heard that term till today. Wall scraper. Yeah. Oh man, I that’s I lived off of that term. Uh uh uh uh Schwarber could hit a home run in a monsoon with the wind blowing in. So why like if you’re if Beller He might hit one in the snow. And I get it. I get it. Bellinger’s solid defensively. You mentioned this off the air. He could play first. That gives you so all three outfield spots. The thing that Bellinger The thing that Bellinger gives you, and you said this off the air, so I’m going to give you credit for it, is if you were to sign him, he also becomes your platoon backup first baseman for sure because he can hit lefties at first base. So, I get it. He’s your starting right fielder. I get that. And with all that being said, I’d rather give that money to Schwarber. I don’t disagree with that. But Bellinger, I what I’m what And that’s reunited. what I learned today based on, you know, looking into this, I think Bellinger’s a close second. Maybe not close second, but he’s second. Yeah. I guess for me, I just don’t I just can’t imagine him and the Yankees not figuring that out. Like, if you’re the Yankees, you may want to cut payroll, but you have to get somebody to hit behind Aaron Judge. He’s the best hitter in the world. What did he hit in the playoffs? Like four 480 this year. Yeah, it’s crazy. So you can’t that’s not fair to him. That’s not you know this this guy’s trying to become one of the all-time greats. You can’t you can’t have like you know maybe they get Tucker. Ben Rice hitting behind him. No, they’re not going to get Tucker because their owner just publicly said they’re not want to pay anybody like that. Good point. Coming up next. Who are some other players the Cubs could reunite with this off season? We got names like Chaffen Armstrong and the others. Let’s explore those next. This episode is brought to you by a FanDuel. The NBA is back and there’s no better place to get into the action than FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Even if you miss the start of the game, you want to ride the hot hand. FanDuel has live bets on everything from who will score next to fourth quarter comebacks. Plus, you can even combine your live bets into a same game parlay for a shot at a bigger payout. It keeps every game exciting, especially when your team is making that late push. Folks, uh, I talked about on this show how bad the Nets are, and I might have overlooked the Wizards of Washington, who now hold a record of 1 and 15. Uh, and all the metrics suggest they could be a team that finishes with singledigit wins, uh, and makes NBA history. Find a way to bet against them. Right now, FanDuel is giving new customers $300 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet win. So, head to fanduel.com to sign up and play your game with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Thank you for making Lockdown Cubs your first listen of the day. And thank you for making Lockdown the number one sports podcast network. Wow, a singledigit amount of wins. That’d be tough to do. Might have to check in on Lockdown Wizards at some point. just to remind ourselves and and get some perspective there. No, they’re bad, but I still think Brooklyn’s worse. All right, the other two, uh, we so we mentioned Schwarber. The other reunion, uh, via organizational reunion, not at the major league level, would be Dylan CE would be the other big one. Yeah, I I I don’t know if I see the Cubs going, you know, those numbers we were discussing with Shore and Bellinger. Do they actually do that for a pitcher? I’m going to guess not. Um but but we’ll see. I know the Astros are really in on cease. I read that. What trade was Pierce Johnson in? I should have looked that up. Former Cubs farm hand. He’s become a pretty good reliever. Has he really? I he was with the Braves the last couple years. Uh I’ll tell you that right now. Maybe he’s a by low candidate for Jed Hoyer in the front office. Uh he was a waiver claim by the Giants September 17. Yeah, he wasn’t in a trade. Okay. Nope. Uh he was with the Cubs, right? Yeah. Oh, yeah. They drafted him. Uh let’s see. And so, uh Victor Keratini is next on the list. This is in no particular order. Uh he’s a free agent this off season. Cubs have no use for him. No. Uh he was in the U Darvis trade, which is still not reaped any benefits for the Cubs. Well, Casey, I think, is an asset. Sure, he’s an asset. You know, benefits for the Cubs at the major league level, not much. But, you know, he’s a guy that you could trade for a big pitcher. Let’s not let’s not, you know, crush that that payroll saving trade. Uh um uh no, the Cubs the Cubs are set. Amaya and uh and Kelly. Yes. Yeah, I feel good about that. And with Bayister maybe catching eight to 10 games. Could this like I would love to see Miguel Amaya be good for like 105 games. I think it’s awesome. I think it’s in there. It It seemed It It seemed like it was trending that way. Yeah. And then And then he got, you know, had that really bad injury. Got hurt twice. Yeah. And that’s been that’s kind of been the story of his career. Right. Right. Right. And he is, I believe, only here through 27 if memory serves. It’s a huge year. It’s a hu huge year for him. Yeah. Uh the sheriff, Andrew Schaen, is a free agent. Sha or is it Chaffen? I think it’s Chaffen. Chaffen. Okay. Uh, of course that his trade to the A’s, uh, brought back Daniel Palencia, right? And then who was the other guy? Greg something that they got back. Yeah, Greg Dykeman. Yeah. He didn’t prove to be much of anything at all, but did get a cup of coffee with the Cubs, though. I vaguely remember that. Shelby Miller was on the Cubs for like two minutes, right? Yep. I think it was the 2020 season. Mhm. He’s a free agent. Maybe you get him. Maybe. Well, I think I think he got hurt though, didn’t he? Yeah, but he he’s had some success. He’s had some success lately if I if I if memory serves. He had an RA of zero or one a lot of last year. Yeah, that so far. That’s the only one you mentioned that I could actually see be a future, you know, coming true there. Also with the Brewers last year, Jose Kintana, part of a semi famousamous trade. uh Cubs got him for cease and uh Eloy Gimenez and uh you know Kintana last year for the Brewers very productive. Can I just can I do a quick like thing on Kintana? Yeah, I think that trade is a little bit overratedly bad from the from the from the Cubs history. I look I totally he helped them win a division uh uh four Yeah. with the Cubs. Um, you knew what you were getting. It was a solid pitcher that, you know, I I’m actually looking up his stats now. I I I really didn’t realize he was with the Cubs for that many. I didn’t realize he was Yeah. He he had four different years with the Cubs. Yep. He he made a start in 2020. I don’t recall that at all. Okay. Um, and I know he struggled in 19, but like it wasn’t that bad of a trade. I mean, was it was it a good one, but it wasn’t as bad as people say it was? I never thought it was. I mean, even even early on, I I know CE and Gimenez got, you know, had had especially Aloy had had glimpses of of power or whatever, but it he didn’t pan out to be anything. This guy, you know, Kitana last year, he was pretty good with the with with the Brewers. And I’m not saying the C I’m not saying I want the Cubs to get him, but he is what he is. basically a little bit over a 500 pitcher with an erra under four. He’s just, you know, he’s a he’s he’s a nice pitcher. Had a nice career. Let’s move on. Do the Cubs bring back Scott Efrost, the Sidewinder? I I would love that. One of our first trades on this program. Efrost for Wisneski, who is not currently an Astro. I uh could they bring Could he be one of the 30 relievers they bring in? I would. That would make my day. Really? I’m so glad I brought him up then. I I almost didn’t include him on my outline. Can I ask you a question? Oh, this would be the place to do it. It is a talk program. Why Why is Mike Talkman a free agent? And and why did he get non-tendered? I missed that one. Mike Tman. No, but seriously, am I missing something with beside him? No. Well, they they shouldn’t because he he hits lefty. It doesn’t make sense. But like like let me just ask you. I want to I’m let me just read you Mike Tauman’s statistics for the last three years. And I get it. He hasn’t played full games, but I’m going to read you a statistics. Then I’m going to I want to make a point. Okay. Yeah. He’s been solid. I’m You know what? I’m just going to say his OBP the last three years. Yeah, just do that. 363, 357, 356. He hits the same average as heap. Same OBP. He just doesn’t slug like Hap and he’s missed some games. But he also is making about 120th of what Hap’s making, right? This guy is a massive asset to a contender. And it and it just it blows my mind that nobody like somebody should be on him as a fourth outfielder. He’s an asset. He for three two three four million dollars, he’s going to give you a 350 OBP off the bench. He can play all three positions. He he gives you great at bats. He can hit good pitching and he hits in the clutch. And he pops a homer every now and then the left center field. I mean, what are we doing? Yeah. No, he would he would be a great fit for one of the teams that’s ready to win. The do the Dodgers. I I I don’t know why. I thought he would be traded at the deadline. Me, too. Why don’t two back-to-back years? Yeah. Like, if I’m the Dodgers, because their outfield was putrid in the in the postseason. It was like Tioscar Hernandez, uh Justin Dean, Andy Andy PZ, uh uh couldn’t get any hit. I think he hit like 020 in the playoffs. Right. Right. You he would thrive on a team like that. Sorry, side note. I apologize. Well, no, I I think that’s that’s a good observation. If the Cubs weren’t so lefty dominant, I I would be all reunions. Yeah. Uh speaking of lefty dominance, Mark Lighter Jr. is a free agent. Sure. Where did he dice up lefties back in the day? Sure. Just don’t make it don’t make him just be a lefty, though. That didn’t work out. Sure. Sure. Yeah. Yeah. I remember I remember us talking about that. Uh Sean Sean Armstrong. Yeah. Now we can now we’re probably past it. Yeah. He pitched for the Cubs um in 24. Had a great year last year with I believe Texas. Uh so he might get paid a little bit. Really? And and yeah, he did. He got he in fact one of the list had him in the top like 70 free agents or something. And finally, Christopher Morurell, who uh got non-endered by the Rays last week. Yeah, it’s a pass. Cubs will not be return. Uh he will not be returning to the Cubs. It’s a pass. Wish him wish him all the best. He’ll have some success somewhere. It’s a pass for me. Would love to see him at a place like Coors Field. Hit some like 480 foot homers. Have some fun over there. And we’ve talked about Pomerance and Theelbar, Sam, but I I think Aaron Savale could be a candidate that comes by back. really Michael Sroka. Why? I I think just adding arms. They want to they want to add arms to that bullpen lab. They they they want they they don’t have a lot of relievers right now. And uh so I think they especially Sroka would be a candidate for that. Like a one ining guy they can make him into. Sro I could see Savali as as a Yeah, Savali might be pushing it. Yeah, he did a nice job. He did. He didn’t walk anybody literally with the Cubs. All right, coming up next, we start to preview our Thanksgiving episode and we also talk about Thanksgiving. Perhaps a thing or two uh we’re grateful for as well. Stay tuned. Shout out to the Everydayers. You can become a Locked On Cubs Everydayer by joining us for every episode throughout the week. All right, our last segment here on the show. Uh, so 2025 marks last quarter century of of of uh, you know, last quarter century and in the last quarter century, you know, who are the top 25 Cubs and and so we have all year to to come up with this. We floated, you know, doing it in January and February, didn’t do it. Uh, so we’re pending the Cubs making a trade or or a signing on on Wednesday. Uh, you can see that episode uh, beginning Thursday morning on your preferred audio platform or YouTube. Just I what I would do is just drive over to your your football game in the morning, have us in your ear, you come back, you know. Exactly. And then by, you know, and then you got time right 27 to 33 minutes right before the Lions and Packers kickoff. Uh, I don’t know who to root for in that game. I think Green Bay is gonna win. Yeah. What would help the Bears the best? You look into that. Get back to us. Got it. Okay. Um, so you know what’s interesting about this list? We have we have relievers, we have starters, we have catchers, we have we just we run the gamut on the list, but who are the top 25 Cubs? This is the definitive list. I mean, I’m saying that tongue and cheek, but uh you know, a lot of good names on here. Also, some names you might not expect, including two current Cubs. Sam, two current Cubs. It’s happened somebody. It’s happened somebody. Yeah. Well, I’m not going to give it away. I I know you’ve voiced displeasure in the past that Hap would be on something. No, no, you’re right. I did the ex I I didn’t make the 25 you did, but I I’ve done the exercise and it’s really hard to find 25. So, Hap has to be on there. Um, so one other current cub. Yeah, it’s the current cub that’s really mystifying me. I have it down to two people. Yeah. And one of them, Danby Swanson. No, it’s not Swanson. It can’t be. You can’t put Swanson on there. You can’t do that. You can’t. So, well, what if he what if he showed up like 25th? What would I’d be I’d be disappointed and tell you that that’s wrong. Not after Not after three night. You can’t have three nice seasons or or two season and be a top 25 Cub of of the century so far. Well, maybe I snuck Pete Crow Armstrong in there. Nah, you would. Not after a year. It’s probably Horn. It’s got to be her cuz Steel Who else are you thinking about? I I was Steel’s 22, 23, 24. It’s not enough years. Um, so it’s got to be Nico, I would think, because Nico’s been he made his debut in 19. He had a good 21. Uh or good 22. Um you know, you know, 23 was good. 24. You know, you start adding it up. I think it has to be DO. So, well, what would you do if I told you it was Jr. Candelario? Yeah. No. Well, if you had him on the list, if you had him on the list, seriously, then, you know, we’d be doing something called a listener review of who Wants to be the next co-host of Lock.com. who would be reviewed. Yeah. Send send in your resume in your in the comments and I’ll review it and decide. Right. You can pick the next co-host. Right. Yeah. All right. Well, you know, I’m very grateful. Very grateful right now. It’s a uh you know, obviously a very reflective time of year. um you know any any words we could say about the show or anything like that because because this show has been lifech changing. Yeah, I think we’re both very thankful for the show. U the opportunity, the listeners, the the camaraderie, each other, the team, uh you know, all those things. You know, this last year was really fascinating because, you know, you covered a a playoff team and yeah, the the intricacies of that and and how intense it felt at times and, you know, how different it felt. It really did feel different. It felt like it really did feel like a different element of of of covering a team that had a chance to go to the National League Championship Series versus covering a a mediocre 83 win team. um which is basically all we’ve done up until that and um that basically it was yeah so it was you know thankful for the program thankful for you thankful for friends and family yeah I’m thankful to you know uh I being at my day job being a teacher I I felt the last year reinvigorated doing that um so I I really turn this week and reflect and and thankful to do that Um, and this is a blast from the past. We’ve done a little bit of a version of this before. Yeah, we have. We definitely have. Including you with a a line about turkey without gravy. I believe uh you were pretty bold. One of the I think this was November of 22, pretty early in our run. Um, I don’t I don’t remember what I said, but yeah, you said, you know, if you don’t if you have turkey without gravy, like you should be, you know, sent somewhere or something. Oh, that sounds that’s I didn’t mean that. Uh, right. But I had a cornbread casserole last year. Yeah. And it was surprisingly very good. Um cuz you have all the casserles, you know, nobody likes the green bean one. People are bullish on potatoes. I disagree. I no problem with green beans, right? I think a spoonful. Well, I told you last year really changed my perspective on Thanksgiving because I spent it over at the D’Angelos. Italian food, right? Yeah. Italian type type Thanksgiving. The food was totally different than what I grew up with. I’m just going to go with I’m just going to go so I’m going to go just with the basics like how I how I grew up on it. Very simple for me. Um you know mac and cheese was not something that was served in my household. Uh so like for me I really liked stuffing and the potatoes and all the carbs and stuff and I just I’ll just you know repeat it again. I just when it comes to my favorite sort of meats and proteins, you know, turkey, not, you know, sliced turkey at the deli, sign me up. Uh, but the the Thanksgiving turkey is just it’s really at the bottom of the list for me. And if I had to compare it, you know, to to a like a what type of seed would it be in like March Madness? Oh, I was going to compare it to a Cubs player, but this is probably better. No, it’d be like a 14 seed. Okay. Ah, like for me, for me, like Billy Castro. Yeah. Yeah. For me, like I, you know, I like I like chicken and and I like fish a lot. Good for you and red meat. Uh but but just turkey now. Now, if we’re talking like going to like Jersey Mike’s, love turkey, right? But this sort of turkey is just it’s a pass for me. So, thank you for making Lockdown Cubs your first listen of the day. For your second listen, check out Locked on MLB. Sully keeps you up todate on the latest rumors, news, and everything else. Find Locked On MLB on YouTube and everywhere you get your Bruce Levine wants the Cubs to the Cubs to trade for Sandy Alcantra. Really? Did that just break? Uh, I think I saw it earlier today. Floated it out there. All right. Top 25 Cubs of the last 25 years dropping on Thanksgiving. Please check that out as well. He’s Sam Olber. I’m Matt Cozy. This is Locked on Cubs. I really enjoy that.

Matt and Sam explore the possibility of Cody Bellinger returning to the Cubs. Plus: Other free agents who used to play for the Cubs and more.

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