**Cody Bellinger Opts to Stay with Chicago Cubs for 2025 Season**

Chicago Cubs outfielder and first baseman Cody Bellinger has decided to exercise his $27.5 million player option, choosing to remain with the team for the 2025 season, as reported by ESPN. Although the Cubs have yet to officially confirm this development, the financial implications of Bellinger's decision are clear. The option included a $2.5 million buyout, making it essentially a $25 million commitment to stay with the Cubs.

Bellinger's contract also features a $25 million player option for the 2026 season, accompanied by a $5 million buyout. Therefore, regardless of his performance moving forward, Bellinger is set to receive at least $32.5 million between his salary in 2025 and the buyout.

In the previous season, Bellinger produced a .266/.325/.426 slash line with 18 home runs, showcasing the kind of player his underlying metrics suggested he could be. A year earlier, he had a more impressive .307/.356/.525 slash line with 26 home runs, which earned him MVP votes. Despite the strong surface numbers, his contact quality metrics were less inspiring, affecting his market value in the offseason.

At 29, Bellinger continues to be a versatile asset in the field, having played center and first base adeptly. This year, he shifted to right field to make room for the talented Pete Crow-Armstrong.

The Cubs concluded their 2024 season with an 83-79 record, mirroring their performance from the previous year and missing the playoff berth by six games. Bellinger's choice to stay will likely solidify the Cubs' position player lineup, though the team may still seek to bolster their pitching staff heading into the new season.