Cubs' Updated Odds for 2024 World Series, NL Central After Cody Bellinger's Contract

The Chicago Cubs are the betting favorites to win the National League Central after agreeing to a deal to secure the return of Silver Slugger winner Cody Bellinger.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Bellinger will sign for $80 million over three years with opt-outs after each of the first two years.

Chicago is now +180 at DraftKings Sportsbook to claim the division, narrowly edging out the St. Louis Cardinals (+185). The Cubs also have the fourth-best odds of winning the NL pennant (+1400) and are +2500 to go all the way and lift a World Series title.

The Milwaukee Brewers won the NL Central by nine games in 2023, but the division could be much more of a crap shoot in 2024. In FanGraphs' projected standings, just four wins separate the Cardinals in first place from the Cincinnati Reds in fourth.

From that perspective, installing Chicago as the favorite makes sense.

Calling the Cubs the fourth favorites for the pennant is a little deceiving because there's such a wide gulf between the Los Angeles Dodgers (+170) and Atlanta Braves (+255) and then everyone else.

In general, the Cubbies are a somewhat risky bet because they're not dramatically different from the team that won 83 games and missed the playoffs.

Japanese starting pitcher Shōta Imanaga is their biggest outside addition so far, and he's likely to be a solid middle-of-the-rotation option rather than the game-changing ace compatriot Yoshinobu Yamamoto projects as.

And for as much as Bellinger helps to shore up the middle of the lineup, the fact he remained unsigned until late February speaks to the general uncertainty about his value moving forward. Maybe the 28-year-old is an elite hitter again after his production cratered in 2021 and 2022, or his 2023 bounce-back could be a bit of a mirage.

If Bellinger regresses, it will have a major impact on the Cubs offense.

Chicago should be in the thick of the NL Central race. Anything beyond that is tough to envision.

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For all the latest betting information and reaction, check out B/R Betting.

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