Cubs Keep Cody Bellinger after Trade Deadline Surge
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs have decided to keep center fielder Cody Bellinger after receiving calls about his potential availability prior to the Trade Deadline. The team’s recent surge on the field convinced the front office that trading the star player for a package of prospects was not the right move.
“He was popular in early conversations,” said Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer. “But he’s fit in perfectly. That was a really easy decision to keep him here.”
Bellinger showed his appreciation by hitting a towering home run off Cincinnati Reds starter Ben Lively in the second inning of the Cubs’ 20-9 blowout victory. The baseball struck the lower left corner of the right-field video board, causing some temporary damage.
As Bellinger rounded third base and headed home, part of the video board showing him crossing the plate and high-fiving teammate Mike Tauchman turned black. It took until the top of the third inning for that part of the display to be restored.
“They fixed it real quick,” Bellinger said, laughing. When asked if he thought the team might send him a repair bill, he added, “I was a little worried.”
Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson, who hit two home runs of his own in the game, described Bellinger’s shot off the video board as “impressive.”
“Left-handed hitters just have such prettier swings than right-handed hitters,” Swanson said, admiring the blast from the on-deck circle. “When you watch it from that angle, as soon as he hits it, it’s like a movie.”
The home run was Bellinger’s 16th of the season, capping off a resurgent July for the outfielder. He hit .400 with eight home runs, five doubles, and 24 RBIs in 26 games during the month. Bellinger became the seventh Cubs batter on record to have a .400 average and eight or more home runs in a calendar month, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
“He’s been everything we expected, but he’s been even better than we expected,” Hoyer said. “He’s been fantastic. He’s also just, you’ve seen how he interacts with our players, how he is in the clubhouse, how he is out on the field with the team. He’s a huge part of why we have so much confidence in this team.”
Bellinger expressed his satisfaction with the Cubs’ decision to keep him, emphasizing that his focus is on winning games.
“I knew the circumstances,” Bellinger said. “But, for me now, it’s just all about continuing to win. Whether there are trade rumors or not, the goal is to win every single day. That’s what we have – a good team that understands that. So, same old business from here on out, honestly.”
With Bellinger’s impressive performance and the Cubs’ surge in the standings, it seems that they made the right decision in holding on to their star center fielder. Fans can expect more exciting moments from Bellinger as the season continues.