Bell is a deadline deal. Hopefully he hits as we to start 2022 as he did the last 4+ months of 2021. With expanded playoffs, the trade deadline will be active. Half a season of Anthony Rizzo got the Cubs a good relief prospect and an OF prospect who will probably end up in the Top 100 in the next year or two.
If Bell hits the first half of 2022 the way he hit the last four months of 2021 (.282/.376/.506), then he would garner a similar package.
this makes sense. I don't see the market before the season.
back to Soto - I think it's looking iffy for contending before he can walk. It looks like there's a commitment to taking the next couple of years to make judgments on about 8 or so guys within the system and only augmenting once that process is complete. ck, vr, lg, cavalli / henry / rutledge, antuna, cluff ... I don't see those calls by the end of '22. as for bell, I don't think we can commit to '24 and beyond, which looks like the rebuild timeframe
