The Opener: Bellinger, International Signing, Spring Training

Here are three things worth watching in baseball today…

1. Bellinger’s still out there:

After a bounceback season with the Cubs in 2023, Cody Bellinger seemed to set himself up for a nice payday going into 2024. That hasn’t materialized just yet, as he lingers on the open market in mid-January. His most recent employer held 2024 Cubs Convention over the weekend and Bellinger seemed like the star of the event, despite not being there. Per Patrick Mooney of The Athletic, everyone was talking about Bellinger throughout the festivities. Will he end up back with the Cubbies? And when?

2. International signing period begins:

The 2024 international signing period has officially begun. Young players from countries like the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and others often agree to deals years before they become official, but today is the day when pen can be put to paper. Each club has a fixed spending pool which they can use to give bonuses to players they sign from now until December 15. The lower-revenue clubs get larger pools and clubs sacrifice pool space by signing free agents that have rejected qualifying offers, while pool money can also be traded. Ben Badler of Baseball America is tracking each club’s pool space and the players they have agreements with.

3. Spring Training a month away:

Many parts of North America are currently dealing with frosty winter conditions and/or severe storms, but the boys of summer are just over the horizon. Not all clubs have the same date for pitchers and catchers to report to Spring Training, but it will be somewhere in the February 13-15 window for most clubs. If you’re one of the people who has to dig a car out of the snow today, perhaps you can hold that thought inside to help keep you warm.