Cody Bellinger wasn’t around for either of the Dodgers’ back-to-back World Series titles, despite being one of L.A.’s best players over the past decade.
That’s because the Dodgers non-tendered him after 2022 following an unexpected career collapse. Bellinger has since turned things around in a big way, first with the Chicago Cubs and then with the New York Yankees last season.
Now he’s a free agent again. And the Dodgers could be players for their former MVP.
MLB.com’s Will Leitch suggested a potential reunion between Bellinger and Los Angeles, which would make for quite the storyline.
“Hey, who’s up for yet another former MVP in the Dodgers lineup? Unlike all the other MVPs on the Dodgers roster next year, Bellinger actually won his first MVP with the Dodgers, back in 2019. Bellinger has gone through a lot of permutations since then, from his extreme post-2020 struggles with the Dodgers (leading to him being non-tendered) to a two-year rebound with the Cubs before being traded to the Yankees last year.”
The fit makes sense beyond just nostalgia. The Dodgers need outfield help, particularly someone who can handle center field. Bellinger checks both boxes.
He’s not the 2019 NL MVP who slashed .305/.406/.629 with 47 home runs anymore. But he’s still a valuable two-way player who can switch-hit and play multiple positions. Over his two seasons in Chicago, he posted a 127 OPS+ while playing solid defense.
The Yankees traded for him last offseason, and while he had a decent year, they’re facing their own payroll decisions with Juan Soto hitting free agency.
From the Dodgers’ perspective, it’d be a fascinating full-circle moment. They’re always looking to add talent, and they’ve got the payroll flexibility to make it work. Plus, Bellinger knows the organization and would slide right back into their system.
Going from Dodgers MVP to non-tender casualty to potential free-agent signing would be quite the six-year journey. But stranger things have happened in baseball, especially when it comes to the Dodgers and their aggressive approach to team-building.
