Blake Snell, J.D. Martinez’s Top Options After Cody Bellinger’s Cubs Contract

Blake Snell, J.D. Martinez’s Top Options After Cody Bellinger’s Cubs Contract0 of 2

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At long last, Cody Bellinger’s contract stalemate is over.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Sunday that Bellinger agreed to return to the Chicago Cubs on a three-year, $80 million contract that features opt-outs after the first and second years. Passan noted “a robust market never materialized” as agent Scott Boras negotiated for him, which likely allowed Chicago to bring him back on a relatively team-friendly deal.

Chicago is surely thrilled, as it improved its chances of winning a National League Central division that looks quite mediocre on paper.

Bellinger has been up and down at times throughout his career as the 2019 National League MVP but also someone who had to sign a one-year prove-it deal last offseason after multiple seasons of struggling.

But if he can replicate what he did in 2023 when he slashed .307/.356/.525 with 26 home runs, 97 RBI and 20 stolen bases, there might be a more significant market waiting for him with an opt out next offseason.

A significant market is exactly what other free agents are looking for at this point, especially since the start of the 2024 campaign is less than a month away. High-profile players such as Blake Snell and J.D. Martinez are still looking for homes and may be the next to sign after the Bellinger domino fell.

With that in mind, here is a look at some potential landing spots for Snell and Martinez.

Blake Snell1 of 2

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Snell is an interesting case study in free agency.

On the one hand, there are fair and realistic durability concerns. He has never pitched more than 180.2 innings in a season and has reached the 130-inning mark just two times in his eight years as a major league pitcher.

Those durability concerns likely aren’t going to get better as the 31-year-old ages.

On the other hand, he is the reigning National League Cy Young winner. And it’s not as if the award was a fluke, as it was the second time he won the Cy Young in his career.

It is somewhat strange to see the reigning Cy Young winner who posted a league-best 2.25 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 234 strikeouts in 180 innings still available with March less than one week away, but that is the reality of this offseason for Snell.

Look for either the New York Yankees or Los Angeles Angels to end this period of uncertainty for the southpaw.

Last week, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported the Yankees offered Snell a contract. Bob Nightengale of USA Today noted “they are waiting to see if his asking price drops on a long-term deal or if he agrees to take a short-term contract that could pay him in excess of $35 million a year.”

With Juan Soto only under contract for the 2024 campaign, this is a World-Series-or-bust season for the Yankees. Adding Snell would only boost those championship chances and give them quite the one-two punch atop the rotation with Gerrit Cole.

It would also lengthen the rotation by pushing Marcus Stroman and Carlos Rodón back to provide more depth for the long season.

As for the Angels, they need someone to replace Shohei Ohtani as their ace. The reigning NL Cy Young winner is someone who could fit the bill, although he might hesitate to sign with Los Angeles if he is looking to compete for a World Series title this season.

J.D. Martinez2 of 2

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It’s pretty clear what any team signing Martinez is going to get at this stage of the 36-year-old’s career.

A big bat who will be the designated hitter.

Martinez has experience as an outfielder, but he isn’t going to be out in the field at this point. Rather, he can help anchor a lineup as a six-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger who just slashed .271/.321/.572 with 33 home runs and 103 RBI in 2023 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Those types of numbers would work in any lineup.

He won’t be suiting up for the San Francisco Giants, though, as Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported he rejected an offer with the National League West team before it signed Jorge Soler.

Martinez could still end up in California, as the Angels would be an ideal landing spot. Like Snell on the pitching side, they need to find a way to make up for at least some of the lost production with Ohtani joining the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Los Angeles has to make up ground on the Houston Astros, Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners in the American League West, and Martinez could help it do that.

Elsewhere, the New York Mets could use Martinez’s power.

New York was an ugly 23rd in the league in OPS from the designated hitter spot in 2023, per MLB.com, and adding a bat like Martinez’s would immediately address those concerns. The team has also been connected to him at times this offseason, and it seems like a natural fit.