Ranking the 10 worst contracts in the National League Central Division

While teams in the NL Central have rarely been big spenders, over the past few season there have been some questionable contracts handed out and today we will breakdown the worst of the worst.

Miles Mikolas on the mound as the Cardinals take on the Milwaukee Brewers
Miles Mikolas on the mound as the Cardinals take on the Milwaukee Brewers | Dilip Vishwanat/GettyImages
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7) Jeimer Candelario

Contract Remaining after 2024: Two years, $27M

Signed to a three-year, $45M contract this past offseason, Cincinnati Reds third baseman Jeimer Candelario has put together a disappointing first season with the club.

Brought in to add another power bat to the middle of their lineup, Candelario has slugged 20 home runs for the Reds only two off of his career-high of 22 set last season but his poor defense and his overall production haven't quite lined up with his salary.

With a loaded infield heading into 2025 including the return of Matt McClain and Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Candelario will not only have to fight them off for playing time but he could very well see mid-season acquisition Ty France also eat into his playing time.

Candelario's contract is starting to look eerily similar to another free-agent failure by the Reds that they just finished paying off in 2023.

8) Cody Bellinger

Contract Remaining after 2024: Two years, $52.5M

After having a career resurgence last season as a member of the Chicago Cubs, outfielder Cody Bellinger ended up re-signing with the team this past offseason for three years, $80M.

The 2019 National League MVP is having a solid season for the Cubs in 2024, but is far from the production they would have hoped when coming to terms with the 28-year-old.

Currently slashing .270/.332/.438 with 18 home runs and 69 RBI in 121 games played, the Cubs hoped for more out of their cleanup hitter in his second season with the club.

Bellinger has an opt-out after this season to become an unrestricted free agent but it is hard to see a team giving him a more lucrative deal for him to leave the $52.5M he is guaranteed to make over the next two seasons.

If Bellinger plays out the remainder of his contract in Chicago, he will enter free agency in 2027 at only 31 years old and will have a chance to earn another big contract before his career is over but as of now, he is not giving the team the production that they paid for.

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