The Los Angeles Dodgers reuniting with 2019 NL MVP Cody Bellinger is not a likely scenario this offseason. The thought of it doesn’t excite Dodgers Way’s Katrina Stebbins, who predicted Bellinger signing elsewhere.
Stebbins believes there’s a chance the team can get past non-tendering Bellinger during the 2022/2023 offseason, but fans may not forget his underperformance while collecting $17 million during the 2022 season.
“Bellinger has publicly expressed gratitude for his time in LA, but no one could blame him if he was still a little sore about the Dodgers non-tendering him after the 2022 season. On the flip side, no one could blame the Dodgers for non-tendering him after two seasons of truly awful performance. Bellinger's had an incredible bounce back since then, and maybe he could let bygones be bygones if it meant coming back to a perennial World Series contender,” Stebbins wrote.
“If we had to guess right now, we'd probably say that the Dodgers will keep letting Bellinger thrive elsewhere and maintain their attention on left field and the bullpen, but if he does come back, it'll definitely bring up a lot of mixed feelings for fans.”
Bellinger’s chances of returning to the New York Yankees decreased dramatically on Tuesday with Trent Grisham accepting the Bronx Bombers’ qualifying offer for the 2026 season. Certainly, a reunion just got more real.
The Dodgers need outfield help, particularly in right field. Bellinger could help there, while also moving to first base or DH on occasion to give chances to young players like Ryan Ward and Andy Pages.
Bellinger’s market also figures to feature the Toronto Blue Jays. The World Series runner-ups could be motivated to outbid the team that just beat them for the title on the open market to spoil a reunion many in L.A. Would welcome. The New York Mets are also in that category as the NL’s next biggest spender.
There figures to be a sweepstakes for the 30-year-old, with all the best teams in baseball lining up for his services. We’ll see how Bellinger moves in free agency as one of the best lefty bats available.