Money, Money, Money

Clare texted just as I were pulling out of the garage to drive Michele to the train: Judge staying with the Yankees. With nine years at a reported $360 million, I would, too. That comes out to $40 million a year, nice money if you can get it. Cody Bellinger, for one, can’t. The former Dodger signed a one-year deal with the Cubs worth $17.5 million, including mutual option and buyout. Back in the old days, we’d call this a “reclamation project.” Bellinger, who won the NL MVP in 2019, hit .165 in 2021 and .210 this season. What struck me about the deal is a comment Tribune beat reporter Meghan Montemurro made today, that the North Siders wouldn’t have signed Bellinger “if the front office and hitting infrastructure didn’t believe he was capable of applying swing and approach changes.” Hitting infrastructure? My God, analytics has trickled down to beat writers. Did the Cubs sign a player or a machine? It’s getting harder and harder to tell.