MLB Rumors: Are teams making a statement by not signing Scott Boras' clients?

Cody Bellinger, Outfielder

On Opening Day at Wrigley Field, center field could be occupied with Pete Crow-Armstrong, who is Chicago's long-term answer to replacing Bellinger. According to owner Tom Ricketts, Boras went directly to him to try to negotiate the Bellinger contract, usurping president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer in the process.

Ricketts would have no part of it. He told reporters that he would not deal directly with Boras because that "undermines the credibility of your general manager. And so inserting yourself into that negotiation, I don't think that helps. So, I don't talk to him."

Bellinger, 28, hit .307 last season with 26 home runs, 97 RBI, 95 runs scored and 20 stolen bases en route to a career high .881 OPS.

While MLB insider Bob Nightengale believes the Cubs remain an inevitability for Bellinger, and that the outfielder has no other substantial offers, Chicago's leadership certainly isn't budging.

Matt Chapman, third base

The Cubs would love to have Chapman, a four-time Gold Glove winner, as well, but due to his pricey demands through Boras, the team is looking seriously at playing Christopher Morel at third base.

"“Christopher’s done so much with the bat that it’s our job to figure out the best way to deploy him, My idea at the start of camp is to kind of focus mainly at third base. Let’s see where we’re at. Let’s evaluate that as we go. But let’s give him a chance at third base. Let’s give him some consistency at third base and see where we’re at, roster-wise, at some point in camp and then go forward from there.”"

- Craig Counsell, Cubs Manager

The Giants could be a soft landing spot for Chapman, according to MLB Insider Mike Rodriguez. Rodriguez has gone on the record as stating that the Giants are looking for another bat for their lineup and, according to his sources, it is Chapman. But, as is the norm, San Francisco hasn't budged much in recent weeks either.

Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi, who just opened the war chest for Jorge Soler, told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic that at some point in time, you have to fish or cut bait, and that it is time to move on and get ready with the team that he's already assembled.

"“It’s a little bit more disruptive to add at this point. And, you know, anybody who’s a free agent, we’ve theoretically had 3 1/2 months to figure out a deal and if it hasn’t happened yet, at some point organizationally, you just need to turn the page and focus on the players you have.”"

- Farhan Zaidi, Giants president