ESPN's Jeff Passan Shouts Out Cubs Fan Lisa for Breaking Cody Bellinger Contract News

Sometimes it's ESPN's Jeff Passan nailing the MLB scoops. Others, Jon Heyman of the New York Post is first on the beat. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal can never be discounted.

And every once in a blue moon, it's a woman named Lisa.

Passan acknowledged a fan named Lisa Dubbs had the scoop on Cody Bellinger signing with the Chicago Cubs before any major reporter.

The Cubs signed Bellinger to a three-year, $80 million contract Sunday, according to Passan. The deal calls for Bellinger to make $30 million in 2024 and another $30 million in 2025, along with a $20 million salary in 2026. He will have the option to opt out of his contract after the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

Bellinger revived his value last season in Chicago, hitting .307/.356/.525 with 26 home runs and 97 runs batted in while earning a Silver Slugger selection. It marked a surprising return to form after Bellinger slashed .203/.272/.376 with 41 home runs and 134 runs batted during a horrid three-year stretch from 2020 to 2022.

Those numbers were a far cry from Bellinger's 2019 MVP season, which saw him hit 47 home runs and drive in 115 runs.

The Cubs were able to sign Bellinger on a relative discount this offseason after he hung out on the open market far longer than expected. Most believed Bellinger would wind up landing a nine-figure contract as teams desperate for a bat banked on his return to form carrying over into 2024.

Instead, Bellinger languished without a deal into spring training, leading to the Lisa-reported compromise confirmed by Passan on Sunday.