Fantasy News

• Cubs' Cody Bellinger: Goes deep in return

  Rotowire May 7, 2024

  Bellinger went 3-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Padres. Bellinger returned from the injured list Tuesday after missing about two weeks with a fractured ribcage, but he didn't seem to skip a beat. Dating back to before his injury, the 28-year-old is now riding a nine-game hitting streak, and he's gone deep four times in that span, giving him six home runs for the season. Bellinger looks locked in and should be a fantasy force the rest of the way as long as he stays healthy.

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• Cubs' Cody Bellinger: Returns from injured list

  Rotowire May 7, 2024

  The Cubs activated Bellinger (ribs) from the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports. Bellinger wound up missing nearly two weeks of action with a fracture in his right ribcage. Having shown enough in workouts to convince the Cubs he was ready to go, he will skip a rehab assignment and go directly back into the lineup.

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• Cubs' Cody Bellinger: Could return during Padres series

  Rotowire May 6, 2024

  Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Monday that Bellinger (ribs) could be activated from the 10-day injured list at some point during the team's current series versus the Padres, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. Bellinger did some hitting and defensive work Monday, and Counsell noted that the outfielder won't require a rehab assignment before returning from the IL. His activation would appear to be imminent, though Bellinger won't be available for Monday's series opener. Bellinger has been on the shelf for nearly two weeks with a fracture in his right ribcage, resulting in Pete Crow-Armstrong taking hold of an everyday role in center field.

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• Cubs' Cody Bellinger: Increasing baseball activities

  Rotowire May 4, 2024

  Bellinger (ribs) is set to do hitting and defensive drills Saturday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports. Bellinger landed on the injured list April 24 after fracturing his right rib against the Astros the day prior. It's a good sign that the 2019 NL MVP is taking the first steps in his rehab, and Cubs manager Craig Counsell suggested that Bellinger could return to the club next week, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com. In Bellinger's absence, Pete Crow-Armstrong has served as the primary starter in center field and is slashing .259/.250/.444 with one home run and seven RBI over 29 plate appearances this season.

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• Cubs' Cody Bellinger: Lands on IL with rib fractures

  Rotowire Apr 24, 2024

  Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed that Bellinger has been placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with right rib fractures, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports. Bellinger was removed from Tuesday's 7-2 win over the Astros with what the team had labeled as a right rib contusion, after initial X-rays had returned negative. However, after Bellinger was sent in for a CT scan earlier Wednesday, he was found to have suffered two fractures, and he'll now be forced to miss at least the next week and a half while he heals up from the injury, according to Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune. The Cubs called up Pete Crow-Armstrong from Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move, and he could end up serving as the primary replacement for Bellinger in center field if Counsell wants to prioritize defense over offense.

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• Cubs' Cody Bellinger: X-rays negative

  Rotowire Apr 23, 2024

  X-rays on Bellinger's ribs came back negative Tuesday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports. Manager Craig Counsell said Bellinger is still dealing with quite a bit of soreness, so the Cubs will wait to see how he feels Wednesday before determining any sort of return timeline. Alexander Canario entered Tuesday's game as Bellinger's replacement and could see extra reps in the outfield should the 2019 NL MVP have to miss time.

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• Cubs' Cody Bellinger: Removed from game

  Rotowire Apr 23, 2024

  Bellinger was removed from Tuesday's game against the Astros due to a right rib contusion, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. Bellinger ran into the outfield wall while attempting to catch a fly ball in the fourth inning, and he was later seen holding his right side in the dugout. The Cubs opted to pull him from the game ahead of the seventh frame, and an update on the outfielder's status will likely come following Tuesday's contest.

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• Cubs' Cody Bellinger: Hits fourth home run

  Rotowire Apr 21, 2024

  Bellinger went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Marlins. Bellinger didn't start the first game, but he returned for the second one and delivered his fourth home run of the season across 20 contests. While his batting average and OPS are down from last year, Bellinger is off to a fine start from a power perspective, and he could match or surpass his 2023 total of 26 long balls if he keeps up his current pace. His career high is 47 home runs, which he posted during his 2019 MVP campaign.

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• Cubs' Cody Bellinger: Cranks third home run

  Rotowire Apr 17, 2024

  Bellinger went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Diamondbacks. Bellinger is off to a bit of a slow start, with just a .200 batting average, a .667 OPS and three home runs across 18 games. However, he is now riding a modest four-game hitting streak, and perhaps Wednesday's long ball will give him another boost of momentum. Bellinger batted .307 with an .881 OPS and 26 home runs a season ago, so the upside is certainly there.

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• Cubs' Cody Bellinger: Homers in victory

  Rotowire Apr 7, 2024

  Bellinger went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Sunday's 8-1 win over the Dodgers. Bellinger was able to connect on a sinker from Ryan Yarbrough in the bottom of the sixth inning, sending the ball 372 feet for his second long ball of the season. The 28-year-old has now reached base in six out of the last seven games, batting .250 with two homers, six RBI, five walks and four runs scored over that stretch.

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• Cubs' Cody Bellinger: Blasts first 2024 home run

  Rotowire Apr 2, 2024

  Bellinger went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and an additional run in Tuesday's 12-2 win over the Rockies. Bellinger connected for his first home run of the season in the seventh inning against Anthony Molina and now has hits in four of his first five games of the year. The 28-year-old also has multiple RBI in his last two contests, and he should have plenty of chances to rack up good counting stats all season long from the middle of Chicago's lineup.

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• Cubs' Cody Bellinger: Doubles RBI total in win

  Rotowire Apr 1, 2024

  Bellinger went 1-for-4 with two RBI in Monday's 5-0 win over the Rockies. Bellinger came into the contest with two RBI across his first three games of the season, but he managed to double his output as he paced the Cubs in the win. The 28-year-old is still looking for his first multi-hit game of the year, though he should have plenty of those coming off of a strong 2023 campaign in which he batted .307. Bellinger also led Chicago with 97 RBI last season.

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• Cubs' Cody Bellinger: Slated for spring debut Wednesday

  Rotowire Mar 4, 2024

  Bellinger will make his Cactus League debut at designated hitter Wednesday against the Angels, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. He'll then progress to playing the field Friday or Saturday. Bellinger is a bit behind schedule this spring after re-signing with the Cubs a little over a week ago, but he still has plenty of time to prep for Opening Day. The 28-year-old is likely to see most of his action in center field this season, with starts at first base also being a possibility.

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• Cubs' Cody Bellinger: Returns to Cubs on three-year deal

  Rotowire Feb 25, 2024

  Bellinger agreed to a three-year, $80 million contract with the Cubs on Sunday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. The contract includes opt-outs after both the 2024 and 2025 seasons. A former Rookie of the Year and National League MVP with the Dodgers, Bellinger's production fell off a cliff in 2021 and 2022, but he rebounded with the Cubs last season (.881 OPS, 26 home runs, 20 steals). Still just 28 years old, he will have a chance to build on what he accomplished in Chicago while playing under new manager Craig Counsell. Bellinger primarily hit cleanup last season under former skipper David Ross.

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• Cody Bellinger: No real negotiations with Cubs yet

  Rotowire Feb 19, 2024

  Cubs owner Tom Ricketts said Monday that there have been "some discussions" with Bellinger's agent, Scott Boras, but it hasn't evolved into a "negotiation" yet, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Furthermore, Ricketts implied that the front office is waiting for Boras to reach back out to re-engage in talks. Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reported earlier Monday that the Cubs are not expected to make Bellinger a massive, long-term offer but would have interest in a shorter contract with opt outs. With spring training underway, Bellinger presumably doesn't want to wait too much longer before making a decision.

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• Cody Bellinger: Officially declines mutual option

  Rotowire Nov 3, 2023

  Bellinger declined his end of a $12.5 million mutual option with the Cubs on Friday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports. This was a no-brainer move for Bellinger, who is certain to be one of the more sought-after hitters on the open market this winter after bouncing back to record a .307/.356/.525 slash line with 26 homers, 97 RBI, 20 stolen bases and 95 runs scored across 130 games with Chicago in 2023. Beyond his offensive upside, the 28-year-old former NL MVP also rates well defensively in center field and would be a fit for a number of clubs.

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• Cubs' Cody Bellinger: Takes seat Sunday

  Rotowire Oct 1, 2023

  Bellinger is out of the lineup for Sunday's game at Milwaukee. The Cubs won Saturday but were still eliminated from postseason contention, so Bellinger will sit for the final game of the campaign. The 28-year-old enjoyed a resurgent year with an .881 OPS, 26 homers, 20 steals and 97 RBI in 130 contests. He's likely to decline his $12 million mutual option for 2024 and should be a hot commodity as a free agent in the offseason.

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• Cubs' Cody Bellinger: Tallies three hits in loss

  Rotowire Sep 26, 2023

  Bellinger went 3-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's 7-6 loss to Atlanta. All three hits were singles, but Bellinger will take it after going hitless in his previous three games. He's still batting a robust .309 this season, though that's dipped a little bit in September, albeit to a still-solid .280. The Cubs will need Bellinger to produce over the final few games if they want to advance to the playoffs.

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• Cubs' Cody Bellinger: Doubles twice, scores in loss

  Rotowire Sep 20, 2023

  Bellinger went 2-for-5 with two doubles and a run scored in Wednesday's 13-7 loss to the Pirates. This was Bellinger's first multi-hit effort in 11 days as he entered Wednesday's contest just 6-for-32 over his last eight games. Even with the small slump, the 28-year-old is still batting a robust .310 this season with an .895 OPS, and he's been a big reason why the Cubs are in position to secure a playoff spot.

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• Cubs' Cody Bellinger: Drives in both runs Saturday

  Rotowire Sep 10, 2023

  Bellinger went 2-for-5 with two RBI in Saturday's 3-2, 10-inning loss to the Diamondbacks. Bellinger plated runs with singles in the third and 10th innings, giving him a team-high 88 RBI for the season. The 28-year-old has had a resurgent first season with the Cubs, as he's sporting a .909 OPS and has looked more like the MVP player he was with the Dodgers back in 2019. Bellinger should remain a key contributor for Chicago down the stretch as the squad battles for a playoff spot.

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