His 2.2 bWAR was far behind the 4.4 mark he posted during his first season with the Cubs, and he finished below the 50th percentile in numerous offensive categories on Baseball Savant, outside squared percentage (89th), strikeout percentage ( 85th), and odor rate (65th).

A left middle finger fracture and a right rib fracture also kept Bellinger on the sidelines a few times last summer.

Also going against Bellinger is a more powerful free agent class this winter, which would put him up against players like Soto. Anthony Santanderand a handful of other talented outfielders looking for new deals.

Bellinger has reportedly not yet decided whether or not he will opt out of his current deal, but he will still have some time to make a decision. The odds seem more stacked against him staying in Chicago given the $52 million he’s guaranteed over the next two seasons, but stranger things have happened.

Sean Manaea – LHP

Player option for 2025 season: $13.5 million

One of the biggest reasons the Mets made it to the NLCS is the resurgence of LHP Sean Manaeawho signed a two-year contract with the club after opting out of his contract with the San Francisco Giants last winter. The 32-year-old has been one of manager Carlos Mendoza’s mainstays in a surprisingly strong rotation in New York.