Cubs Rumors: David Peralta, Dominic Smith Agree to MiLB Contracts amid Bellinger Buzz

Free-agent outfielder David Peralta agreed to a contract with the Chicago Cubs on Monday, per FanSided's Robert Murray. ESPN's Jesse Rogers reported that it's a minor league deal.

The New York Post's Jon Heyman reported that the Cubs are also picking up first baseman Dominic Smith on a minor league deal and have extended him an MLB camp invite.

Peralta, an 11-year veteran, spent last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, hitting .259 and notching 102 hits and seven home runs.

Smith, who spent last season with the Washington Nationals, hit .254, recording 134 hits and 12 home runs.

Peralta underwent offseason forearm surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon, so he will likely rehab in the minors and join the major league roster once he makes a full recovery.

The deal comes amid the Cubs' interest in resigning free-agent outfielder Cody Bellinger. Team owner Tom Ricketts said, per Rogers, that they are "waiting" for the star's side to engage in talks.

"I'm like everyone else," Ricketts said. "We're just waiting. Waiting for whenever he and his agent are going to engage. It could be any time now or it could be in a few weeks. We'll see where it goes."

In his first year with the Cubs last season, Bellinger hit a career-high .307, notching 153 hits and 26 home runs on his way to earning the league's Comeback Player of the Year Award. Following the end of the season, Bellinger declined a $25 million option for 2024 to test the market, and the seventh-year player is still waiting as spring training nears.

The Cubs are coming off an 83-79 campaign that saw them miss the postseason for a third straight year, though they hope to end that streak in 2024.