Chicago Cubs’ Cody Bellinger watches his home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, July 7, 2023, in New York. Bellinger re-signed with the Cubs on a three-year, $80 million deal.
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MESA, Ariz. – The Cubs made Cody Bellinger’s three-year deal official Tuesday evening. They did not announce the terms of the contract, but according to sources, it’s worth $80 million and includes opt outs after the first and second years.
The two sides agreed to terms earlier this week, but they had to check off items like Bellinger undergoing his physical, and the Cubs opening a 40-man roster spot, before making the announcement.
Tuesday morning, the Cubs traded left-hander Bailey Horn to the White Sox for minor-league pitcher Matt Thompson, making room on the roster.
Horn returned to the organization that drafted him in 2020. The White Sox dealt him to the North Side at the trade deadline the next year, for reliever Ryan Tepera. He rose to Triple-A last year, and the Cubs put him on the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.
The Cubs needed to remove someone from the roster, but exposing a player to waivers would come with the risk of losing him for nothing. In Thompson, the Cubs are bringing in a 23-year-old pitcher who posted a 4.85 ERA in 27 starts in Double-A last year.
The Cubs are unlikely to make any more major additions before opening day. They’ve already strengthened their starting pitching, bullpen, and now offense. With those acquisitions, the Cubs are hovering right around the first Competitive Balance Tax threshold. But they could still add at the trade deadline.
Bellinger is expected in Cubs camp Wednesday.
Hendricks on the mound
Veteran Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks made his 2024 Cactus League debut on Tuesday. In two innings, he allowed a hit and a run. He also issued a walk and recorded a strikeout.
“I want to be really ready to go by that first game when I get out there,” Hendricks said earlier this spring. “I tend to be a little bit of a slow starter, so I really want to take advantage of the spring games, really get into game mode.”
What did that mean for his approach to his start Tuesday? It was mostly a change in mindset.
“Before, I’m maybe feeling my way through it; I go in there with a plan of something specific I do want to work on, and I hammer it too much, almost,” he said. “So, pick a spot where I want to work on something, but then pick other spots where I’m attacking the hitter, putting together an at bat and getting a guy out.”
Division rivalry
Hendricks’ first spring training game happened to be against the Reds, a youthful, up-and-comer in the National League Central.
“Start 1, right into the division,” Hendricks said. “I told [pitching coach Tommy Hottovy,] ‘Here we go, regular season.’”
The Cubs face NL Central opponents in back-to-back games. They take on the Brewers Tuesday, in skipper Craig Counsell’s first game against the team he managed for nine seasons.