MESA, Ariz. — The Cubs made Cody Bellinger’s three-year contract official Tuesday. They didn’t announce the terms of the deal, but sources have said it’s worth $80 million and includes opt-outs after the first and second years.
The sides agreed to terms Sunday, but they had to check off items such as Bellinger undergoing his physical and the Cubs opening a spot on their 40-man roster before making the announcement.
Earlier in the day, the Cubs traded left-hander Bailey Horn to the White Sox for minor-league pitcher Matt Thompson, making room for Bellinger on the roster.
Horn returned to the organization that drafted him in 2020. The Sox dealt him to the Cubs at the trade deadline in 2021 for reliever Ryan Tepera. He rose to Triple-A last season, and the Cubs put him on the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.
The Cubs needed to remove someone from the 40-man roster, but exposing a player to waivers would come with the risk of losing him for nothing. In Thompson, the Cubs are bringing in a 23-year-old pitcher who posted a 4.85 ERA in 27 starts in Double-A last season.
The Cubs are unlikely to make any more major additions before Opening Day. They already have strengthened their starting pitching, their bullpen and now their offense. With those acquisitions, the Cubs are hovering right around the first Competitive Balance Tax threshold. But they still could add at the trade deadline.
Bellinger is expected in camp Wednesday.
Hendricks on the mound
Veteran right-hander Kyle Hendricks made his Cactus League debut Tuesday. In two innings, he allowed a hit and a run. He also issued a walk and had a strikeout.
‘‘I want to be really ready to go by that first game when I get out there,’’ Hendricks said earlier in camp. ‘‘I tend to be a little bit of a slow starter, so I really want to take advantage of the spring games, really get into game mode.’’
What did that mean for his approach Tuesday? It was mostly a change in mindset.
‘‘Before, I’m maybe feeling my way through it,’’ he said. ‘‘I go in there with a plan of something specific I want to work on, and I hammer it too much, almost. So pick a spot where I want to work on something, but then pick other spots where I’m attacking the hitter, putting together an at-bat and getting a guy out.’’
Division rivalry
Hendricks’ first spring game happened to be against the Reds, a young, up-and-coming team in the National League Central.
‘‘Start 1, right into the division,’’ Hendricks said. ‘‘I told [pitching coach Tommy Hottovy], ‘Here we go, regular season.’ ’’
The Cubs will face their second NL Central foe in as many days when they take on the Brewers on Wednesday. It will be skipper Craig Counsell’s first game against the team he managed for nine seasons.
Cubs 6, Reds 6
The Cubs rallied from six runs down to force a tie Tuesday against the Reds, snapping their two-game scoreless streak. They rallied for four runs in the eighth inning and two in the ninth.
• It was a big day for the Cubs’ bullpen, with veterans and established high-leverage arms entering the game. Starter Kyle Hendricks was followed by Adbert Alzolay, Julian Merryweather, Carl Edwards Jr., Jose Cuas and Mark Leiter Jr.
• Center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong had two doubles in three at-bats.
• Prospects James Triantos and Matt Shaw had two RBI each.
• Infield prospect Luis Vazquez got into a collision at second base while trying to put down a tag. He was holding his wrist after the play, but he stayed in the game.
• Cubs at Brewers, 2:10 p.m. Wednesday, Phoenix, Marquee,
Jordan Wicks vs. Rob Zastryzny.
