The Cubs have activated Cody Bellinger from the 10-day injured list, as reported by several sources. Bellinger, who has been sidelined since July 11 due to a fractured left middle finger from being hit by a pitch from Cionel Perez, appears to be recovering well. He has been participating in baseball activities, which has led the Cubs to bring him back sooner than expected.
The decision to activate Bellinger today is somewhat unexpected, as manager Craig Counsell had mentioned earlier that Bellinger would return in a few days. However, Bellinger’s impressive progress in his hitting drills made the team confident enough to reinstate him for today’s game against the Reds.
Initially, Bellinger might serve as the designated hitter because, while he’s comfortable hitting, he is still experiencing some difficulty with throwing due to his left-handedness.
This season, Bellinger has posted a .269/.331/.410 line with nine home runs over 344 plate appearances. He previously missed a few weeks with a rib fracture, in addition to his recent IL stint. His 108 wRC+ is above average but falls short of the 134 wRC+ he achieved in 2023, which the Cubs had anticipated when they re-signed him to a three-year, $80 million deal last winter.
With the option to opt out of his contract after this season, Bellinger has two months left to improve his performance and enhance his free agent prospects. If he chooses to stay with the Cubs, he also has the option to opt out after the 2025 season, providing him with additional flexibility.
Given his contract situation, recent injury, and current performance, it’s unlikely the Cubs will trade him as they focus on adding players before the upcoming trade deadline.
In a related move, Chicago acquired Paredes as part of their long-term strategy. Paredes, who is under team control through 2027, is currently batting .245/.357/.435 with 16 home runs and 55 RBIs this season. Despite a strong All-Star performance with the Rays, Paredes might face challenges in Chicago.
According to Baseball Prospectus writer Robert Orr, Paredes would have hit 13 fewer home runs over the past three seasons if he had played at Wrigley Field. Statcast Park Factors show that Wrigley Field suppresses home runs for right-handed hitters like Paredes to 97% of the league average, while Tropicana Field, where he played previously, inflates right-handed home runs to 103% of the league average.
