{"id":36795,"date":"2025-04-30T22:25:50","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T22:25:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.letsportsrock.com\/?p=36795"},"modified":"2025-04-30T22:25:50","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T22:25:50","slug":"breaking-news-chicago-cubs-top-star-confirms-he-wants-to-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.letsportsrock.com\/?p=36795","title":{"rendered":"Breaking News: Chicago Cubs Top Star Confirms He Wants To Return\u2026\u2026\u2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"d79db4796efc26332eabfc3f5dafbc76\" data-index=\"1\" style=\"float: none; margin:10px 0 10px 0; text-align:center;\">\n<div class=\"hb-ad-inarticle\">\r\n    <div class=\"hb-ad-inner\"> \r\n    <div class=\"hbagency_cls\"  id=\"hbagency_space_111930\"><\/div><\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>**Breaking News: Cubs&#8217; Star Cody Bellinger Confirms Return for 2025 Season**<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In a significant development for the Chicago Cubs, outfielder Cody Bellinger has opted to return for the 2025 season, exercising his $27.5 million player option. This decision ensures that the 29-year-old former National League MVP will remain on the North Side of Chicago for a third consecutive season. Bellinger had the opportunity to test free agency but chose to stay with the Cubs, who hold a $2.5 million buyout option for the 2026 season, with Bellinger also having an opt-out after 2025. ([Cody Bellinger exercises player option, return to Cubs in 2025 &#8211; CBS Chicago](<\/p>\n<p>Bellinger signed a three-year, $90 million contract with the Cubs before the 2024 season. In 2024, he played all three outfield positions and first base, finishing the season with a .266 batting average, 18 home runs, nine stolen bases, and 78 RBIs. While these numbers were a decline from his 2023 performance (.307, 26 HR, 20 SB, 97 RBIs), Bellinger&#8217;s versatility and experience remain valuable assets to the team. ([Report: Cody Bellinger returning to Cubs in 2025](<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Cubs president of baseball operations, Jed Hoyer, expressed satisfaction with Bellinger&#8217;s decision, noting that it provides clarity for the team&#8217;s roster planning. Hoyer emphasized the importance of retaining key players to build a competitive team. ([Jed Hoyer on Cody Bellinger, offseason for 2025 Cubs]<\/p>\n<p>As the Cubs prepare for the upcoming season, Bellinger&#8217;s return bolsters their lineup and adds veteran leadership to the squad. Fans can look forward to seeing the former MVP continue to contribute to the team&#8217;s success in 2025.<\/p>\n\n<div style=\"font-size: 0px; height: 0px; line-height: 0px; margin: 0; padding: 0; clear: both;\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>**Breaking News: Cubs&#8217; Star Cody Bellinger Confirms Return for 2025 Season** &nbsp; In a significant development for the Chicago Cubs, outfielder Cody Bellinger has opted to return for the 2025 season, exercising his $27.5 million player option. This decision ensures that the 29-year-old former National League MVP will remain on the North Side of Chicago [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":36797,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36795","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Breaking News: Chicago Cubs Top Star Confirms He Wants To Return\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Breaking News: Chicago Cubs Top Star Confirms He Wants To Return\u2026\u2026\u2026\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link 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