Atlanta Braves among top contenders for Chicago Cubs star

The Chicago Cubs head into the MLB trade deadline with no clear direction at the moment. They’ve shown signs that they can compete, but have also had long stretches where they’ve played like one of the worst teams in baseball.

At this point, it seems very likely that the Cubs will end up selling. Jed Hoyer won’t be able to make enough trades to propel the current team to the playoffs. Trying to force a win doesn’t usually end well.

If they ever decide to sell, star first baseman and outfielder Cody Bellinger will become a safe bet on the trade market. There are also a number of other players who could also attract investor interest.

In this spirit, the New York Times took a look at Chicago’s top potential trade partners in a trade for Bellinger. There were a few very intriguing destinations named as potential partners.

They named the Atlanta Braves as a top trade destination for Bellinger ahead of the deadline.

Bellinger has had a decent 2024 season so far. His numbers haven’t been as good as expected, but he’s still been productive amid a disappointing year for the Cubs.

In 79 games, Bellinger hit nine home runs and drove in 37 runs, while batting .269/.331/.410. Those numbers aren’t amazing, but he’d be a productive addition to any lineup.

Currently, the Braves have a record of 54 wins and 44 losses. That’s not a bad record, but they are still 8.5 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the race for the National League East.

The good news is that Atlanta has a healthy lead in the NL Wild Card race.

The Braves would be aggressive at the trade deadline, which would be a wise move. They have a talented roster, but they could use a little more dynamism in their lineup. Bellinger could bring that to the field.

Besides Atlanta, two other teams have been named as potential destinations for Bellinger: the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Seattle Mariners.

It will be interesting to see what Chicago chooses to do before the trade deadline. If they decide to trade Bellinger, the Braves will be a team to watch closely.