Bell Flees Toronto to Sign With Cubs : Baseball: The free-agent outfielder says Blue Jays didn’t treat him well. Chicago gives him a guaranteed $13 million.

George Bell, who spent his first nine major-league seasons with Toronto, signed with the Chicago Cubs today for three years and an option season for a guaranteed $13 million.

“We’re just thrilled to have a quality player like George Bell,” Cubs General Manager Jim Frey said. “Since late in the season, we’ve been talking about what we could do to help our club.”

Bell, a free agent, won the MVP award in 1987 when he hit .308 with 47 home runs and 134 RBIs.

The Blue Jays lost interest in re-signing the left fielder when they acquired outfielder Joe Carter along with second baseman Roberto Alomar from San Diego on Wednesday for Fred McGriff and Tony Fernandez.

“They really treated me bad the last two months after the season,” Bell said of the Blue Jays. “They really should have treated me better than they did.”

Bell, 31, now joins former Montreal star Andre Dawson in the Cubs outfield. Dawson won the National League MVP in his first season with Chicago.

With Toronto, Bell hit 202 homers and drove in 740 runs. He has a lifetime average of .286.

Bell’s numbers slipped a bit last season as he hit .265 with 21 homers and 86 RBIs. After his spectacular season in 1987, Bell has averaged only 21 home runs the past three years. That should pick up playing in cozy Wrigley Field.

Toronto selected Bell from the Philadelphia Phillies organization in 1978 and he went on to become the club’s all-time leader in home runs and RBIs.

It was the Cubs’ second major free-agent acquisition of the off-season. On Nov. 21, they signed left-hander Danny Jackson to a four-year deal for $10.5 million.

Bell’s career in Toronto was marked by some troubled times with managers and the fans.

Bell, a three-time All-Star, balked when then-Manager Jimy Williams wanted to make him a designated hitter and was often booed by the fans when he hit a slump. Bell gave it back, though, claiming the fans were jealous of his salary.

In his nine seasons, Bell has made 77 errors in the outfield for an untidy average of 8.5 a season. He will have less ground to cover at Wrigley Field, however.

Bell helped the Blue Jays win the AL East in 1985 and 1987, but had only one homer and three RBIs in 48 playoff at-bats.

The acquisition of Bell may lead to another deal for Chicago. The Cubs are trying to trade outfielder Dwight Smith to Baltimore for third baseman Craig Worthington.