The Dodgers will not tender a contract to Cody Bellinger for his final year of arbitration eligibility, reports Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic (Twitter link). MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz had projected the 2019 NL MVP for a salary around $18.1MM. Bellinger will be a free agent once the team officially announces the decision.
It’s not a surprising move at this point, but it’s one nobody would’ve foreseen when Bellinger was collecting his MVP trophy three years ago. He blasted 47 home runs that season and posted an overall .305/.406/.629 line across 661 plate appearances. The left-handed hitter looked to have cemented himself as one of the sport’s preeminent sluggers, and he carried a career .278/.368/.559 mark in over 1800 plate appearances heading into 2020. At age 24, Bellinger seemed a budding superstar.
Unfortunately, things have gone south over the past few seasons. He stumbled a bit during the abbreviated 2020 campaign, putting up a .239/.333/.455 line in 56 games. That was still above-average production but a notable step back from the numbers of his first few seasons. A putrid .245 batting average on balls in play seemed to be a major cause of that, and one could certainly point to the anomalous circumstances that year in anticipating a bounceback.
That’s not how things have played out, seemingly in part due to an ill-advised celebration that postseason. Bellinger dislocated his right shoulder celebrating a crucial home run in Game 7 of the 2020 NLCS. While he played out the postseason, he underwent surgery in mid-November. Bellinger was healthy enough to open the 2021 campaign on the roster, but he battled a series of unrelated leg and rib issues. In between, his slash line plummeted to a meager .165/.240/.302 in 95 games.
L.A. brought him back last winter, avoiding arbitration on a $17MM salary. Their hoped-for bounceback season didn’t really materialize, though. Bellinger’s 2022 numbers were improved from the prior year but nowhere near those of previous seasons. In 550 trips to the plate, he put up a .210/.265/.389 mark. That brings him to exactly 900 plate appearances over the past two years, in which he’s hit .193/.256/.355. His on-base percentage is lowest among the 151 hitters with 900+ trips to the dish, while his batting average bests only that of Joey Gallo. He’s sixth from the bottom in slugging.
Bellinger’s batted ball metrics and power output have taken a step back, which could indicate he’s never quite regained the explosiveness in his swing after the shoulder surgery. Yet he’s also seen a marked uptick in strikeouts, fanning 27.1% of the time after cutting his strikeout rate below 18% in 2019-20. His walk percentage fell to a below-average 7.7%, and manager Dave Roberts has increasingly dropped him further in the batting order.
With two full seasons of huge offensive struggles under his belt, the Dodgers have elected to move on rather than pay the two-time All-Star in the neighborhood of $18MM. That always looked to be more than even the high-spending franchise would be willing to pay, and it stands to reason no other club was willing to offer that kind of salary either. The Dodgers have presumably spent the past few weeks gauging the trade market for Bellinger, and that he’ll be cut loose for no return indicates there wasn’t much interest at that price point.
That said, there’s no question he’ll be of interest to teams as a bounceback target at a lower cost. Bellinger, to his credit, hasn’t allowed his offensive struggles to affect his work in the field. He’s an elite runner who has moved full-time to center field after coming up as a first baseman and corner outfielder. Defensive Runs Saved has rated him as a roughly average center fielder the last two years, but Ultimate Zone Rating and Statcast have pegged him above par. Statcast has been most bullish, rating him as seven runs above average in just under 1900 innings of center field work since the start of the 2021 campaign.
Slightly above-average center field defense and plus baserunning gives Bellinger a decent floor even if he’s not hitting well, although he’s obviously quite a bit more of an upside play than a traditional glove-only outfielder. He’ll look for a complete reset offensively but heading into his age-27 campaign, he could certainly still rediscover some of his old form at the plate.
Non-tendered players aren’t subject to waivers, so Bellinger will be a free agent. He and his representatives at the Boras Corporation will have the opportunity to gauge interest from other teams, and they’ll benefit from a lack of supply in center field. Excepting Aaron Judge, former Met Brandon Nimmo is the top center fielder available in free agency. Bellinger arguably becomes the next-best option in a class that also includes Kevin Kiermaier, Adam Duvall and Jackie Bradley Jr.
The Mets, Blue Jays, Marlins, Rangers, Rays, Rockies, Astros, Padres and Giants (a team run by former L.A. executive Farhan Zaidi) could all look externally for center help. They’re speculative fits for Bellinger, and the Dodgers themselves could remain in contact about a reunion at a lower price point.
Los Angeles could give Mookie Betts, Chris Taylor or Trayce Thompson increased center field run, but it stands to reason they’ll also scour the market for help outside the organization. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports (on Twitter) they’re taking a look at Kiermaier as part of that search.
Subtracting Bellinger’s arbitration projection leaves L.A. with around $152MM in projected 2023 payroll, per Roster Resource, pending additional arbitration decisions. They’re estimated around $169MM in luxury tax obligations, leaving them well shy of next year’s $233MM base tax threshold. That doesn’t include an approximate $20MM salary for Clayton Kershaw, who’s reportedly nearing a deal to re-sign. Still, the Dodgers should have plenty of financial breathing room to address shortstop, center field, third base and rotation depth that look like the team’s biggest question marks early in the offseason.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
The Braves could try him in Left.
They have enough dead weight there.
I could see him playing CF or 1B in Detroit. Seems like an ideal fit to me.
I don’t see a legit competitive team interested in signing him, his batting has been flat-out terrible for two straight seasons, you know he’s taking a 1-year deal, and if he bounces back, he gets traded midseason and then back to FA next year.
I think a lot of lefties are going to have huge boosts to their stats now that the shift is gone. I think the psychological aspect of it is much greater than people might give it credit, we shall see.
I can actually see the Red Sox taking a flyer and move Hernandez to second. Arroyo cannot stay on the field a full season and it provides depth when the team is healthy.
Do you see banning the shift as that big of a boost? Left handed hitters have refused to go the other way with an open infield. What’s to stop a team from bringing their leftfielder over to play short right?
It should help, but I think it will be overrated. The SS will likely have one foot on the dirt and one in the OF, with a lean towards 1st. My guess is that they will do the same thing as the 1B does after holding a runner on.
NWYanks, that would be hilarious if they abandoned left field! I’d bet they still swing away at their “best approach” hhahahahaa
Yea they had had a center fielder that couldn’t hit for years.
If he wants a chance to win sign with the Rays. This is exactly the one yr type of contract the rays could do. Where better to try to rebuild his career
What is Cody Bellinger and ideal candidate for Detroit? They dumped great fielders Derek Hill and Daz Cameron.
I think Kiki at 2b has been the plan since the new contract
But his issue wasn’t hitting into shifts; it was literally hitting pitched baseballs with his bat.
The team that pays him would be better off burning those dollars for heat.
Remember kids it’s okay to celebrate, but celebrate to hard like Cody Bellinger and you’ll end up living in a van down by the river
If the Braves had him during his MVP year he’d still be under contract for 5 more years!
Really?
Texas Rangers?
Not a fit. Dude can’t hit anymore. Rangers have a CF already as well.
Progressive
Agreed Braves should go after him if they want to be cheap and not go after Nimmo. Bellinger at least has an outside shot to be useful and since ATL seems to have no intention of going after someone more reliable he would be the best candidate to take a shot on and hope it comes up favorable.
What are you doing with Rosario and Ozuna? Are they walking through Stargate?
lmao
Adam Duvall maybe cheaper. I know that may upset some Braves fans if they bring him back but it’s not the worse case scenario in LF.
I’d rather have him than Cody
Those cross arm celebrations…. he already had shoulder issues? Damn? Is so talented? Wonder if he’ll ever be the same?
Welcome to the jays mr Bellinger. Even if you hit your current weight with your CF abilities your be well worth 12 million.
He isn’t worth 12m.
Braves should stay far away from him. I assure you, even being non-tendered, he will cost too much. He’s really really bad. I’d love to see him connect a pull a ball on that shorter fence in RF with that big ugly swing, but it’s not worth the headache and struggle bus for him to do that just a few times a year
Remember kids it’s okay to celebrate, but celebrate to hard like Cody Bellinger and you’ll end up living in a van down by the river
=(
What a sharp decline for this guy. I hope ATL picks him up and gives him a shot in LF because his defense is still quite good.
You hit the nail on the head. Because he’s a Boras client, he’ll require a 2yr deal with an opt out.
“Because he’s a Boras client, his agent will actually do what’s best for his future. What a loser”
Great point
Too bad that it didn’t work out but ultimately it was the right thing to do as Bellinger looks like a broken hitter at the plate without an easy fix. Can’t afford to take a roster spot for defense only.
Certainly not for $18M+.
Yeah, the decision is a no-brainer
Hard to fix a problem when you’re not willing to do what it takes to, ya know, fix the problem.
This is 100% on Bellinger, whose refusal to change his approach at the plate–save his own tinkering, which just made it worse–and to adopt anything remotely resembling a two-strike approach have been well-documented and, really, on display for two-plus years now.
The start to his career was incredible, but that 2019 first half now looks like an all-time outlier.
His glove is very good (though per advanced metrics, not as great as the narrative suggests), but beyond that, his presence in a lineup essentially means his team is playing 8-versus-9 on offense.
He will not be worth the money some team overpays him to chase greatness, lost.
CF and Back-up 1B for the Cubs?
That’s what I’m hoping for. They need to buy time in CF and 1st base til PCA and Mervis are ready. And it would be a nice problem if the guy got his swing back.
Yes, it’s weird that the article doesn’t mention the Cubs as a potential suitor. It’s a perfect fit.
He could do the exact same thing with the Rays. Difference is he would be going to playoff team
Only 26!
He’s 27 1/2 but who’s counting.
Math is tough
Just a reminder how difficult hitting a baseball is.
Especially when you don’t know what pitch is coming.
Yep, as soon as he didn’t know anymore he became one of the worst hitters in baseball.
Huh?
Expected but WOW
Like nobody saw this coming! Ba-bye!
San Francisco, I bet Farhan jumps on this.
I have to agree
Youth, power, great glove, versatility, makes total sense to me. Sounds like what Farhan has been looking for.
Sounds like a good opportunity for Belli to shove it to his old team too in the NL west. Ha
He’s going to shove it to LA playing with the awful Giants?
Why would he need to ‘shove it to his old team’? He has been terrible
for three years. The Dodgers stuck with him. I would bet that all the Dodgers and front office wish for Bellinger to do well. Ha to you. Revenge
seeker.
I’m pretty sure he can do whatever he wants, I was making a joke, calm down, I think it’s a terrible move for the Giants considering where they are, who wouldn’t want what’s best for him? SMH
You don’t even know where the Giants will be next year, bet you didn’t think the Giants were going to win the division the year before either. Smh
…while striking out four times a game in the 5-hole…and then in the 6-hole…and then in the 7-hole…and then…………………?
He’s an idiot if so. They need impact bats, not below average offensive players.
I don’t think they should sign Belli, and if so, as a depth piece only. Maybe minor league contract. Idk.
Oakland 1yr pillow contract. Guaranteed AB’s in CF/1B with the added bonus of a guaranteed trade to a contender in July (if he produces).
If he doesn’t produce, well, this isn’t a 2023 playoff team anyway.
Really hope the A’s take advantage of their record low payroll this offseason and bring in some bounceback candidates they could clip at the deadline.
The A’s make a lot of sense also.
Why would there A’s do that? They want to play so bad the city of Oakland moves them to Las Vegas for them.
Oakland is perfect for Bellinger. Dude…
bring in some bounceback candidates they could clip at the deadline.
=============================
They already have two bounce-backs candidates: Pache & Laureano.
They won’t pay Belli $9M and leave Pache on the bench.
And even if they make the decision to send Pache down for more seasoning, they would move Laureano to CF to re-stablish his value.
I don’t think Pache is a bounce-back candidate since he never hit.
Has Cubs written all over this
Crazy how far he’s fallen off. Will he be one to benefit from the banning of the shift?
I was going to post the same thing. With second basemen often playing short RF, lefties were hit hardest by the shift. In addition, according to theanalyst.com, the Dodgers were the 4th most team effected by the shift since 2020.
Plus, even with a dismal OBP, he still managed 14 SBs this season. Larger bases and a ban of the shift can only benefit a player like Cory.
While I understand the Dodgers not paying him $18M, I think Bellinger is far from done at 26.
All left hand pull hitters will benefit.
Can still shift the OF’s and Cody has shown little ability to go to left. just a thought…
He hasn’t been good since the league cracked down on electronic sign stealing. The shift ban won’t matter to him.
His K rate is ballooning. Shift is not going to help him that much. Also all the hits on mis-hits (late and early) he got to the left side won’t be hits. That will negate some of the benefit.
In order to benefit from the shift ban, the hitter has to make contact with the ball. Bellinger has a huge problem with that.
The guy is in his own now. He needs to realize that he doesn’t need to hit 40 HRs to be successful. Whatever he’s doing isn’t working so it’s time for him to get out of LA and hear some different input. If he’s heard the input then it’s time for him start listening to it.
Phillies can play him at 1st
Or maybe he can catch. He sure isn’t any good at CF.
He’s almost the best defensive CF in baseball.
Blueskys? You looking for attention?
Not with that bat. I’ll take Hoskins’ butcher glove.
Maybe Kevin Long could fix his swing and his head.
At game 4 versus the Braves, the camera showed a closeup of Hoskins glove and it confirmed the rumors, it is indeed made out of a curling stone.
Castellanos, Schwarbs and Bryce and you suggest Belli would play first lol no hate just a funny thought process.
He is being sarcastic, no way to know unless you had read some of his past posts, but he is very familiar with Belli.
No no I really think he can catch!
You don’t take a good defensive bad hitter OF and move them to 1b.
He’s defense is too good for the Phils. We need errors and dingers.
Hence Hoskins lol
VPH
Hey I mocked the lack of defensive prowess and saw you guys make it to the WS. Aaron Judge as Phillies shortstop would fit to a tee.
Bellinger and Trea Turner to the Phillies what say you Von Purple Hayes?
Sign me up for Turner. Belli can dance around with the Phanatic if he wants, but I don’t think they need him in the lineup.
Bellinger’s Power in CBP would add Thunder Great defender also.
Belli is done. His bat is gone.
Maybe Kevin Long can fix him then you solve CF with Brandon Marsh as backup. Trea Turner at SS what a lineup with sterling defense.
Marsh is really good. Happy with him as a starter. I don’t think there’s any fixing Belli.
I liked Brandon Marsh with the Angels and I remember telling you that the Phillies would make the Wild Card after their Trading Deadline.
It won’t Cost that much to give Bellinger a try, sell him on Kevin Long and CBP in fixing him on a one year deal and off to the Races.
I remember telling you that the Phillies would make the Wild Card after their Trading Deadline.
==================================
Considering that they already had the #3 record among the non-division leaders, predicting that they would finish with the #3 record among the non-division leaders, doesn’t strike me as such a bold prediction.
They actually went 32-28 after the deadline.
I bet his bowl still works. All the drugs certainly didn’t help.
I hope this doesn’t come back and bite the Dodgers in the butt
Another tragedy of the sign stealing wave…dude was never the same after the MLB crackdown.
I can’t believe you got an upvote for that comment.
Bellinger benefited from the juiced baseball in 2019 and suffered multiple injuries after that. The Dodgers were victims of sign-stealing, not perpetrators.
Victim? Lol. Bellinger was the largest recipient of that era. You didn’t see any of the Astros go on a steep decline like that when they stopped.
Imagine thinking the Dodgers *weren’t* cheating. Y’all are so naive, it’s ridiculous. Victim complex…
“You didn’t see any of the Astros go on a steep decline like that when they stopped.”
I’m guessing from that comment that you’re an Astros fan.
For the record, the scandal broke in a report in The Athletic in November 2019. Let’s compare some Astros numbers in the 2019 season and the 2020 season.
Altuve: 2019 – .298 AVG , .903 OPS; 2020 – .219 AVG, .630 OPS
Bregman: 2019 – .296 AVG, 1.015 OPS; 2020 – .242 AVG, .801 OPS
Correa: 2019 – .279 AVG, .926 OPS; 2020 – .264 AVG, .709 OPS
Gurriel: 2019 – .298 AVG, .884 OPS; 2020 – .232 AVG, .658 OPS
If Bellinger’s decline was due to the focus on sign-stealing, how about these four declines in OPS of over 200 points?
Imagine thinking any team was as invested in cheating as the Astros, whose GM and manager were suspended and then fired. Denial and false equivalence syndrome.
The Astros were scapegoated for a league-wide problem. A simple Google search will give you all the Dodger info you need. Former players have also said as much. But it’s easier to be sanctimonious & clutch your pearls bc LA would NEVER do such a thing…LOL
I’m not a Dodgers fan and have no trouble believing they tried to steal signs, as so many teams do. But nobody went to the lengths the Astros did, with cameras and a direct line to the dugout relaying signs in real time — and they did it for years.
Again, false equivalence syndrome. When it comes to admitting guilt, some Astros fans are worse than the players.
P.S.
I think most of us have reached the point where we’re glad to drop the discussion of the Astros’ crooked past. It’s fans like you who keep the topic alive by posting nonsense like your first comment above about Bellinger.
Maybe you should stop bringing it up.
Someone else brought up the Astros, clueless. I mentioned Bellinger first. “Dodgers cheated, but not as bad” — great argument!
Don’t remember what you said? It’s still up on the board:
“Another tragedy of the sign stealing wave…dude was never the same after the MLB crackdown.”
You think you can mention sign-stealing in reference to a player on the team that faced the Astros in the 2017 World Series, after the Astros’ GM and manager were suspended and fired, and nobody’s going to think of the Astros?
“The sign stealing wave” — a wave that crested in Houston.
Like I said: Some Astros fans are worse than the players.
Instead of trying to get over with your chronic whataboutism, maybe stop talking about it, eh?
hahahaha how many profiles you got neon?
One comment I’m blocked from replying but directly below I’m not. Classic
Bellinger’s decline aligns perfectly with his injury in mid 2019. He didn’t need surgery at that time so it’s SO overlooked, but the LCS injury was a re-occurrence, not the first time he injured his shoulder
His decline aligns perfectly with the first injury. But I’m sure he went from being the fastest dodger ever to hit 100 career home runs to being the 6th worst power hitter in all of baseball for the last 3 years because another team was caught cheating. Keep hating. Wow
You’re obsessed with Houston (still). Move on…
You appear to be obsessed with your team’s guilt– in fact, more so than they are.
Again, maybe take your own advice and move on instead of making it your crusade to try to minimize their guilt with whataboutism.
You’re obsessed…
“I’m not crying — you’re crying!”
2020 season was an anomaly for so many players. A 60 game season played during a freaking pandemic doesn’t support your point at all. I’m not an Astros fan, but that year had weird numbers across the board, so you’re reaching. The players you reference have bounced back, won batting titles, WORLD SERIES. Cmon. Weak.
You conveniently only show 2020, 1/3 of a season. a fake season with no fans which should not have counted. Anyone can have a bad 1/3 of a season, but not multiple full seasons like Bellinger who was the beneficiary of sign stealing.
First off, let’s remember which comment I was responding to:
“You didn’t see any of the Astros go on a steep decline like that when they stopped.”
The four Astros in question saw their OPS drop by over 200 points in the first season following the revelation of the sign-stealing scheme. I’d call that a steep decline. What’s more, they were among the top six Astros in OPS in 2019, with a minimum of 250 plate appearances apiece.
It’s true that 2020 was a weird season with a lot of challenges, and the 2019 baseballs were juiced, so declines in 2020 were very understandable. Some really good players suffered.
But let’s compare the Astros to the Yankees, also accused of sign-stealing but not to anywhere near the same extent as the Astros.
The top four Yankees in OPS in 2019, with a minimum of 250 plate appearances, were these guys, for which I’ll list their 2019 and 2020 numbers:
Judge: 2019 – .272 AVG, .921 OPS; 2020 – .257 AVG, .891 OPS
LeMahieu: 2019 – .327 AVG, .893 OPS; 2020 – .364 AVG, 1.011 OPS
Urshela: 2019 – .314 AVG, .889 OPS; 2020 – .298 AVG, .858 OPS
Torres: 2019 – .278 AVG, .871 OPS; 2020 – .243 AVG, .724 OPS
Do you see anyone whose OPS dropped over 200 points?
The one with the biggest drop by far was Torres, who lost 147 points off his OPS; and besides missing the juiced ball more than any other Yankee, he also was foolishly shifted to shortstop full-time, where he struggled.
Judge’s OPS declined only 30 points.
LeMahieu’s OPS went UP by 118 points, and his AVG went up by 37 points.
Urshela’s OPS declined by only 31 points.
Bellinger’s extended decline is ascribable to his multiple injuries: shoulder, calf, hamstring and ribs. The shoulder especially, which tended to pop out of its socket — a condition that obviously bears on his ability to hit.
If citing the 2020 season is supposedly weak, so is ignoring a litany of injuries.
yawn
Real proof or find a better argument. And no, some speculative story about maybe other teams did it too isn’t proof
Nobody’s reading all that. Stay mad…
Astros fans have become unbearably defensive and dismissive of the whole scandal. Then they try to equate things that are not even comparable. I honestly don’t understand, but maybe I’d be the same if I was an Astros fan. I don’t know. All I know is the 2022 Astros are the best team in baseball. Enjoy it.
It’s hard to take your point seriously when you include Altuve in it. It is widely known that he did not participate in it.
I think you meant “Dodgers fans have become unbearably defensive…”
I definitely did not mean Dodgers fans.
“It’s hard to take your point seriously when you include Altuve in it.”
Really? Neon Cop tried to palm off Bellinger’s decline as evidence that the Dodgers were as guilty of sign-stealing as the Astros.
If Bellinger’s struggles were about sign-stealing, why wasn’t Altuve’s massive 2020 decline also about sign-stealing?
You’ve gotta be trolling at this point. Altuve bounced back; Bellinger hasn’t. Keep crying…
Now show 2021 or 2022 of those players. All still had star seasons in either or both of the seasons. Bellinger has not. 2020 was a joke of a season and everything from that season should be taken with a grain of salt.
There you go again: “I’m not crying — you’re crying!”
Bellinger’s shoulder issues date back to 2018. In November of 2020, he had shoulder surgery. In 2021, he missed 54 days with a calf injury, 9 days with a hamstring injury, and 8 days with a rib injury.
Why did the rest of the Dodgers suffer no protracted decline if Bellinger’s 2019 owed to the Dodgers stealing signs?
Neon Cop, you made up that nonsense about Bellinger benefiting from stealing signs in 2019 because, once again, you wanted to point fingers at another franchise because you can’t get over the fact that the Astros cheated,
Well, get over it.
They cheated. They admitted it. Admitting it was a condition of their not being punished. The Commissioner’s office did a thorough investigation. The GM and manager got suspended and fired. It’s history.
I can tell you this: admitting guilt is a lot more liberating than denying it.
Frankly, Manfred did the team no favors when he decided not to punish any of the players and made Luhnow a scapegoat. Luhnow sued for unjust termination, and his lawyer identified another guy in the front office who was behind the scheme and who told the others involved to keep Luhnow in the dark — and Luhnow’s lawyer had an email to prove it. (Google “Saying He Was a ‘Scapegoat,’ Jeff Luhnow Sues the Astros”.)
I think most fans are fair-minded enough that they’d have forgiven the Astros pretty quickly if they’d been punished. By choosing to impose no punishment, Manfred caused the resentment to fester.
But it’s history now, water under the bridge. I think most of us are tired of talking about it and have moved on.
So stop bringing it up constantly, either directly or by postulating ludicrous theories about other teams’ players. The ones obsessed with the past are you and a few other Astros fans like you who, for whatever reasons, can’t deal with what happened.
The team has gotten past it. They won legitimately this year. You should try to get your head out of the past and move on. Your team is on top of the world. Get in the present and enjoy it.
Hey dude, stop writing so much? Nobody’s reading all that tripe. Simply google “Dodgers cheating,” then use some common sense. Thanks…
Admitting guilt is a lot more liberating than denying it.
Free yourself.
Keep it simple for Neon, he’s use to Twitter and can only type and read a limited amount of letters.
Bellinger and his celebration after the game winning home run against Atlanta is what killed his career. He doesn’t have the same bat speed. He is going cost too much for most teams based on his batting average. Suspect he will still get 8-10 million
Dude was never the same since Kike relocated his shoulder.with that bionic bash.
How can it bite them? Like if he goes to another team and hits like a all star? If they thought they could get him to do that they would give him a contract.
Get real. Every thing bites you in the butt if that is the way you think life is run.
There are no butts or teeth in this making Cody a free agent. Silly fear guy.
Brew crew get him
No surprise here… I mistakenly drafted him onto my fantasy team this year and was fortunate enough to trade him for Marcus Simien after his horrendously slow start (which he never recovered from)
Smart move.
Lets see if a change of scenery is what it takes to get Bellinger going or is he one foot out the game
a mistake
That shoulder lock to celebrate a homer is really stupid. Great way to injure yourself.
The shoulder had had several dislocation episodes before the homer celebration. Chronic problem.
Even better reason not to do it.
Hernandez was not too bright.
What’s with banging on Hernandez? You dont look so bright.
Hernandez caused Bellinger’s injury and made a stupid comment afterward about being stronger than Bellinger. No class.
Way to go white knight!
I think somebody will scoop him up quick because they will see something other teams can’t or won’t bother with. Feels like a Rays, Rangers, or Padres type move.
Looks like a great replacement for Gallo 🙂
He’ll cost WAY more than people here think. There are almost no good CF options out there and his former production is gonna result in a dozen or more offers. You’re not signing him on a dice-roll sized contract. Figure $12m at least.
I’d love the Rays to snag him…don’t see it happening tho.
Why not he can play 1st ,cf,dh. 10-12 million 1yr rebuild his career type contract.why would either side say no? Rays get huge upside, he gets a playoff team
Padres would make my day! Always looking for that near automatic out in the opposition!
They already have Grisham for that.
Still think he ends up with the Dodgers.
I’d like to see the Angels take a chance on Bellinger as an OF/1B. Maybe a one-year deal with base salary of $6–8M plus incentives. Low risk, high reward.
Me too
He was moved off 1B to avoid forcing him to dive for balls down the line. Can’t imagine any team wants to put his shoulder in more potential peril
With the Angels he would be used predominantly in the OF—maybe CF and move Trout to LF. Jared Walsh is the everyday 1B but in case he’s not fully recovered from his surgery or has a setback, it’s good insurance knowing that Bellinger could step in at 1B. And the Angels could go with Adell/Moniak in LF during that period. Bellinger is the type of depth the Halos need when injuries strike—and they always do.
1 year $8 mil to the Angels.
What better place for a pop fly lefty to play a 1yr prove it deal then at the little league dimensions of Yankee stadium.
Yeh, yeh, yeh, stupid is a stupid does troll! Guess the Pesky pollute 305 and the Green Monster a 280+ are other examples that escapes your little mind!
Green monster? Did you skip over where he said, “pop fly lefty”?
Actually, for lefty power Yankee stadium is far better than Fenway. It’s just fact. The same way the Green Monster means the Sox almost always lead the league in doubles.
A lot of people don’t understand the Fenway Effect, but it doesn’t stop them from commenting on it. The RS generally hit more HRs on the road than at home, but always have a better average at home.
Aaron Judge is going to LA in 5, 4,…
Already gave $19 mil to Joc…Oops!
Apples and oranges – and still about $100M under the CBT….”Oops!”
WSox are likely to make an effort given that they need some left handed balance and much better OF defense.
I know the Sox need to improve their offense from 2022, and Bellinger isn’t a great bet to provide much of a boost in that regard, but the improvement to the team’s outfield defense and baserunning would be huge and worth taking a chance on IMO. I hope Rick Hahn can convince him to come to Chicago, and JR opens up the purse strings enough to make it happen.
White Sox is a real good fit.
(Enter your favorite team here) should give him a chance! Go (any team)!!!
Definitely feels that way
Get it done NG!!
He could certainly use a change scenery.
A change of greenery more like it
Maybe he should lay off the rumored herb. Learn to take directions.
The weed is awesome up here in Canada Cody , the best slush is cheap and it’s plentiful , stores on every corner. We need a CF.
Supposed to be best Kush. Auto correct lol
Best slush is currently in Buffalo
Outfielder, bats lefty, Blue Jays go get him
“bats lefty” has been more, “flails hopelessly from the left side” for a few seaons now…
I can see Seattle kicking the tires. They have said they would like 1 maybe 2 outfielders added. Right now it’s Winker/Kelenic or Trammell in left.
He travels light, no bat.
The question is why. Does he know the reason of his decline? Or is he still in the dark? Play in the Japan league for a year and truly listen to what they say about your problem(s). Players who come back well to the Major all find the answers. Mikolas found his, Suarez found his, Puig? No he did not.
His reason is he doesn’t know what pitch is coming anymore. I would hope nobody would seriously sign this guy.
Stating the same thing repeatedly doesn’t make it true.
Your team was one of the originals.
You seriously think he went from “better power hitter than Piazza” to “6th worst slugging percentage in baseball for collective last 3 years” without an injury?
Even though he’s had multiple surgeries to multiple parts of his body in that timeframe? does that really make sense to you logically??
Multiple injuries.
i agree shoulders are tricky so many moving parts, and some players never recover. wish the best of luck to belli.
and jjdoo2 just because you say something over and over and convinced yourself doesn’t make it true.
He will be the giants big splash in free agency congrats
Farhan sign him yet? Giants can fix him. His versatility and glove will definitely be intriguing..
Cant fix him if he isnt willing to change. Been waiting for any signs of substantive changes in his swing/approach since the 2nd half of ’19. Cody is his own worst enemy.
Awhile back I read an article that stated he refused to listen to his hitting coach. The Dodgers wanted to change his stance and shorten his swing but he vetoed them.
Couldn’t be further from the truth. He did more changes, for better or worse, than any other dodger the last few years
Stance, swing path, position in the box. He tinkered more than anyone, and it was a constant point on the broadcast that he was working with multiple Dodger coaches.
Why is it so hard for everyone to stick to facts? Phew
It will never happen. But the Pirates should sign him to play 1B/DH. It’s not like there are many better options in the system already, and if he rebounded they could flip him.
A lot of teams will be interested. He isn’t going to go to a non playoff team, with a pitcher friendly park and a awful hitting coach.
And your not going to 1B/DH a guy that’s best asset is his defense. An argument could be made that moving back to 1B could give him more focus on his swing but otherwise his glove is too strong to have him DH
I’d say have him play the OF but just like middle infield, the Pirates have a ton of OF guys they need to get reps for to see if they can hack it in the big leagues. Outside of Choi there’s no one to play 1B, and I’d bet on Bellinger’s power more than Choi’s.
And your’e not going to 1B/DH a guy that’s best asset is his defense. An argument could be made that moving back to 1B could give him more focus on his swing but otherwise his glove is too strong to have him DH
Thanks error message
And your’e not going to 1B/DH a guy that’s best asset is his defense.
========================
I was going to mention in a different response. Versatility is not linear. It’s good for bench players and good hitters. Not so much for skill positions.
Awful hitting coach is a compliment
Don’t know how you determine who is “a awful hitting coach,” but I can guarantee no free agent signs because of the hitting coach.
btw, “…a (sic) awful hitting coach…”
I’d like to convince myself he’d be a nice lefty bat and strong defender for LF at Yankee Stadium. I’m still traumatized by Joey Gallo though so I’ll take a pass.
Same inclination myself and I wouldn’t make it pass May if JD doesn’t somehow find the fountain of youth.
Only 27. Defense is still good. Maybe a different coaching staff can work to fix whatever holes he has in his swing
Yeah the dodgers are definitely the franchise that can’t get the most out of their players
The kind of player the Angels would take a risk on
He isn’t injured enough.
Neither was Rendon…
Red Sox may take a chance on him Bloom loves players that are looking to bounce back that could come cheap. Save a buck Bloom will be all over this
He won’t be cheap.
As a RQ fan, I’d him a look. He has a decent amount of floor, and we need another OF.
RQ? Rockies?
He hit well in 17 & 18, 2019 really needs an asterisk and a step back whenever discussing how well anyone hit. The drop-off of hitters after certain injuries is tough, it’s like pitchers after thoratic whatever or bball/football after an Achilles. From what I’ve seen his swing is pure launch angle, difficult to change that swing easily, but probably more promising than Chris Davis.
Wonder what else was going on throughout the league during those years….
Well, we know what went on in Houston.
Zaidi will go after Bellinger. And Zaidi will tell everyone that Bellinger solves CF problem and is a significant impact player.
RIP
Marlins or Dodgers. First year ten million second year fourteen million club option with a two million buyout.
Thinking single digits first year with buyout of 2nd year that would bring total guarantee to $8-10 million.
TEN MIL for a defense only player? Hope it’s any team but the Dodgers to throw those dollars away…
Defense does matter. So does baserunning, where he’s also good. Bad as his bat was he was still almost a 2 win player by fWAR. That’s about $10m on today’s market, maybe higher.
Have to actually get on base for good baserunning to factor. Abysmal OBP. Billy Hamilton isnt looking too bad these days…
Do you see what Jackie Bradley Jr. is making?
Zero? He is a free agent.
*was
When did he sign a deal?
manny–i think you and i are the only real ones on the Marlins—-and it;ll be a one year deal. The other major player would be the Diamondbacks—he’s from there—and would get to “stay home”–but the acquisition of Kyle Lewis yesterday adds yet another outfielder there.
If it were yesterday it was:
1. Dbacks
2. Marlins
Today, reverse that.
Rays, so he can play for a good team going to playoffs
I like Seattle here, he plays multiple positions and there would be no pressure up here. Great 4th OF/bench bat.
He can re-sign with the Dodgers at a lower salary when he finds nobody is going to pay him near $18m for his glove.
Mariners 2nd baseman.
Astros will fix him up
Yeah I like Houston for Belli too.
Lots of love for Bellinger. The natives are restless.
The mention of his name burns me. In the middle of all that non performance was a game winning hit in Game 5 of the ‘21 NLDS.
The cause of much frustration.
That was a no-brainer. Who was it that said there was no way he would be non-tendered?
Angels LF
Somebody somewhere will somehow find a way to fit him in at around 9 million or so. TOR, CHI, NYM, STL, SFG all have rolls he could fill but probably LAD
I’d like to see toronto give it a try. However, can’t be their only outfield move since trading Teo hurt the fan base. However, price tag I think will be around $12 mil, if not upwards of 15. Could also see a 2 yr with player option for the second
Could be he just needs a change of scenery and a different voice in his ear. He could be a steal.
The more I think about the more I agree with your numbers, he is a Boras guy.
All the tools to be elite, none of the drive to adapt. The league figured out the holes in his swing in the 2nd half of his MVP season and he’s done next to nothing mechanically or approach-wise to fill the holes. Needs to find out who helped Nimmo and go get a complete makeover.
Padres will sign him to play 1st base
I’d take a flyer on that
No surprise here, it’s shocking how quickly he fell off.
Flawed swing and wait-for it…..helped out entirely by sign stealing!!!! Wait no…only Astros!!!!
As expected…good luck back home in Arizona
Reds make to much sense 2/20 mil to shore up cf and if decent trade at deadline. Great American cures a lot of hitters problems
Alright Perry…let’s make it happen. Better corner or 4th outfielder than we have in house. Let’s go!
i wonder how the contracts will compare for him and Gallo
Type of player the Rays could kick the tires on. Although, after a historically bad offense this past season, are they willing to replace KK with a (possibly) worse LH bat with more bounce back potential? Or is 900 ABs and .193 who he really is?
Having watched 90% of his AB’s the last 2 seasons, yes, he really is that bad. There are a lot of ‘non competitive at bats”.
Doubt he comes back to L.A. after this, but Dodgers should still be pursuing a more team-friendly deal with him. His defense is worth. And the reality is: the Dodgers 2022 lineup should’ve been covering for Belli’s bat. Unfortunately for us, 7-8-9 and more often than not 6 hitters were all ASS.
With Bellinger gone #35 is available when they sign JV it’s all coming together.
Yesterday, from Jon Morosi:
“The #BlueJays are one team to watch on Cody Bellinger if he is non-tendered; they are known to have interest in FA Brandon Nimmo.
“The Jays want to add a left-handed bat in the outfield, and Rogers Centre is a great place to revive one’s offensive numbers.”
He’s coming North for the bud , bud !
I mean..until he figures out that his extreme uppercut swing is his main issue, I think he just is what he is at this point..a low .200’s hitter with a ton of pop ups, and occasional power. Hope the Padres stay far away from him..
Lol. Hasn’t been able to hit since the league cracked down on electronic sign stealing….
Bellinger reminds me of Davis with the O;s minus the big contract. I feel sorry for this guy, he just can’t seem to find the magic!
He is from Gilbert, Arizona. He has a lot of family here. I could see him signing with the D’Backs. He can play 1st base and the outfield, plus something the D’Backs are in need of is a DH.
The Diamondbacks have Walker, Varsho, Carroll, Thomas, McCarthy and Lewis. Bellinger does. It hit well enough to be a regular 1B. Cardholders and Carroll are not getting traded.
With all the money off the books (Bellinger, Price, Kimbrel, Turner, Turner), it sure opens the door for an Aaron Judge signing (Betts to CF).
Really seems that way to me as someone who isn’t a LAD fan. He prob taken a 3-5 year high AAV deal with them
Angels should grab him, definitely an upgrade over Adell.
Defensively, yes.
Genuinely curious what kind of contract he’ll get
Given the success San Francisco’s staff has had with assisting established players make adjustments to find another level of success Cody’s reps should be on the phone with them ASAP. He’s got familiarity with both Kapler and Farhan from their Dodger days.
SF was looking to get more athletic, better defensively and he’s it + they have the budget to offer the sort of contact like Rodon just had. It makes way too much sense
LA is normally very good at this sort of coaching but for whatever reason it didn’t work out and their current CBT situation just couldn’t commit those $’s to him. I think LAD are very serious about going after Judge and Cody was collateral damage in that pursuit.
The Dodgers 2023 projected payroll stands at 186M, plenty of room to commit the $ if they thought there was a reasonable chance of a decent return.
Backup plan for the Mets ? If they lose Nimmo
I was thinking the same thing lol
Mets. CF, left handed bat, Nimmo replacement and can play fist if needed. Change of scenery may help.
I’m thinking that as well. If they decide Nimmo is too expensive (I’m assuming he’ll get $18-20 million a year), they could try Bellinger and use the savings to make address the pitching staff, both the rotation and the bullpen.
He makes a lot of sense for LAA and TO. If he continues to not hit, the Angels can platoon him with Adell in LF. And with Trout continuing to miss games, Belli would be an excellent backup CF.
With TO, you move Springer to RF, and Belli fits right in, And just like with LAA, if Belli struggles, he can platoon with Merrifield.
Just before I read this I posted about the same thing. I think he sticks in calli but I’d love him as a jay he is the best for for that team honestly. The perfect 4 OF for them and gets decent ABs even in that situation, I think his floor in the ALE is great D, few stolen bags and 25 HRs
To both of you……
He seems like a nice pickup for $3m a year salary to play some OF D.
But he’s going to want a lot more than that.
Both those teams can do better with the money.
Just what the NYY need.
Dodgers have slashed a ton of payroll. Something’s up.
Yes something is up, and slashing payroll is it.
Orioles
I hope not. He’s fallen far and hard since 2019. I’d rather give the ABs to Stowers and wait for Cowser and Kjersrad to come up.
Or Beavers. Same height and weight. And swing looks similar
Off-season Outlook: SF Giants ? Anyone know when that’s coming? Or did I miss it?
I think he stays in California aswell. I’d really like him on the Jays but regardless the ALE is the best place to take a 1yr deal to rebuild your offensive numbers. Belly would be the perfect 4th OF and would get decent playing time even in that situation. Best case he somewhat returns to form and hits 260 with ok OBP and 30+ bombs, worst case he hits 200/300/350 ish and has 15 or 20 hr with good D
@CV Per a recent Chat – sometime next week – at the latest.
He should go to Reds on a 1 year deal…. They’ll probably suck but could play CF full time & would have great opportunity to build back up his value in a small hitter friendly ball park…
The Mets should offer Bellinger a 2 year deal at 12 million a year with an opt out after the first year. Gives Bellinger 24 mil garenteed if he can’t perform. The Mets need a center fielder and I would rather them try out Bellinger than spending over 100 mil to sign Nimmo
I approve.
Much of the Mets offensive success was Nimmo and/or Marte getting on base ahead of Linder and Alonso. He’s also become a pretty good CF with occasional pop. He’s no superstar and the contract being talked about is high, but Nimmo is an above average player who provides value in lots of ways. I’ll be sorry to see him gone.
As for Bellinger, the few times I saw him play, he looked awful at the plate. And we are not talking small sample sizes here. With McCann already in the lineup, no way would I want another sub .200 everyday player.
Dodgers are cheaters – something “mysterious” about this guy.
You know who could use a CF/1B? Twins.
Rockies would probably be the perfect spot for him, hotter friendly park, old giants hitting coach that focuses on bat to ball skills, an outfield where he could show off his range metrics a lot. Plus if he goes to coors and hits 35hr his market value would easily double the next off season ♂️
That’s not a bad take. His defense in that huge CF alone is enough for them to offer him something. Plus, there’s a lo of outfield room for his bloopers to fall in.
I think this is the left handed bat that the Cardinals will need. I see a 1 year 10M deal or 2 years at $25 with club option.
The Dodgers must know something about Belli that they’re not telling us. That said, nobody wanted to trade for him either.
It will be interesting, for sure, to see where he lands and how he responds. In 2018, Roberts benched him against lefties, he was basically a platoon player. After that humbling season, he responded with an MVP 2019.
Fast forward to today, after being non-tendered, maybe this humbling experience will trigger another monster year. (shrugs shoulders)
Marlins 2 years $30 mil
Blue Jays or Philly
Cardinals
Arizona
Jays should just sign him to a 1 year deal . Not invest in multiple years right now. Then next year, him, Ryu, Chapman, Gurriel come off the books. Probably some other dudes. But those 4 would give the Jays 60 million savings on next years payroll. Obviously some of those guys would be replaced, or resigned, but the Jays need to start looking at their payroll flexibility in years to come.
I’d rather risk if I need an OFer, even say giving him 3 years 30-35 ( with the proverbial options , opt outs and buyouts that make it palatable for both sides) than five/ hundred for a Nimmo , or five/70 for close my eyes and hope Japanese “ slugger”
4th OFer for the Mets would be nice after we get Nimmo back
Nimmo can go. He’s not going to get us over the top. He’ll get overpaid by someone.
This is crazy to me. Altuve has been investigated for 5 years and he’s clean yet he’s hated, yet Cody is free to toss shade with no foundation, wins an MVP award against a guy that was probably pulling the same stunts he was. Now people are blaming the Dodgers for not developing him properly? THEY WERE CHEATING! The hypocrisy of this is out of this world insane, good lord. I feel the problem now is that people don’t read. They may read a headline, or a post on IG, but outside of that they’re not interested. Idiots
Too much weed
By Cody or the posters in this thread ?
Not enough, maybe,
You ready to be an Angel Cody? 1 year, $5 million with an $18 million option year with a $5 million buyout.
The White Sox will kick their tires here!
Bellinger would be a fit for many clubs including: Padres, Giants, Mariners..
even the Rebuilding Tigers would take a “value play” and offer a “pillow contract” for CB
LAPD is looking for Bellinger. Seems he’s suspected of stealing $17M in 2022.
How come on this site some guys are having a great year hitting .245 or less many times and other times it’s “A putrid .245 batting average” ?
Typically it’s a batting line being referred to not just an avg.
A guy with a .245 avg can still have an OPS of 800+ and be well above average and another can strike out a lot, have little power and be an overall terrible hitter.
You misread that. The actual line was:
“A putrid .245 batting average on balls in play”
The “balls in play” in the key phrase.
Guy has already made $45 million – baseball is a hobby at this point. Maybe the Diamondbacks need a seventh outfielder?
Looks like Bellinger smoked himself out of quite a lucrative career.
Are you that naive to think a 27 year old world class athlete smoked too much weed? It wasn’t the half dozen injuries he’s had in the last 3 years. It’s the weed?
How dumb are you, honestly?
How the frack do you know it is not the weed? Do you actually know the dude? Do you know, for example, whether he lights up once a week, on his off day, or once day, or multiple times a day?
If you do know the guy, then you are qualified to answer. Otherwise your response was seriously stupid.
So Joe, if it’s “seriously stupid” to presume a professional athlete didn’t smoke away his ability to drive a baseball from age 25 to 27, you must think that is *the most logical* reason why Cody has shown no power in 3 years?
So why does the storyline about Cody being a stoner far out date his decline? explain how these jokes were being made when he hit 48 bombs and he was the fastest Dodger *ever* to 100 career home runs but they are also the sole reason he’s been the 6th worst power hitter in the entire league for the last 3 years?
And btw, his power outage directly correlates to his first shoulder injury in mid-2019
Go ahead, I’ll wait. Justify that paradox
1st season: ROTY
2nd season: LCS MVP
3rd season: NL MVP
4th season: gets a ring
Only 26yo, son of Major Leaguer, whose father’s career numbers he bested in his debut season.
Non-tendered.
This is the kind of signing that has GM Bloom written all over it. Cheap money for one year and if he has a come year, the Red Sox let him walk. I can see the Presser now. They let Bogie walk and trot him out and tell the stupid fans, this is his replacement.
What do you have against a Bellinger signing? I think he’ll be too expensive for us, since he is not a perfect fit, but Bellinger looks like he has a high floor and an even higher ceiling.
Step 1 : Angels sign for 3 yrs $50MM
Step 2: At end of first season Angels trade him for a lottery pick starter in single A ball
Step 3 : Angel fans post how great Minasian is doing because he’s clearing out the deadwood off the roster
$18M for a player that hit .165 last season? That’s ridiculous even tho he was once a good player.
I think the Mets should sign him. Even though he sukks now and everyone knows it, the Mets can sign him to a big contract, talk him up and put great hope in him…..and then they will have a perfect scapegoat for their failure next season………..
Still only 26 and can get it back. Not like father time took it. Still younger than Will Smith. Actually only Gavin Lux is younger at 24 so no reason to think he won’t improve back to a decent playa. His dad played on the 02 Angels. Bring him aboard!
He’s so bad… easy decision for them
The Rays hitting lab could probably bring him back to MVP form
That lab must be the same one that gave us covid, our hitters sucked last year!
My favorite part of the anti-astros comments on here by coastal elites is…scoreboard.
As someone else commented, would be a good fit for the Yankees. Lefty power hitter in the line up and an probably DH and play some 1B with Rizzo
Not shocked. He was harrrable these past 3 seasons. He’s be lucky to spend 2023 in AA/AAA somewhere.
Welcome to the Mets, can replace Nimmo in CF, want get on OBP as good as Nimmo but will give more power
Injuries appear to have ended his MLB career. Minor league deal only unless the GM is stupid.
Hoping my Cubs sign him.
Came here to say this. Hope they take a chance on him over Abreu who is 7 years his elder
If they’d won the 2022 WS maybe the LAD don’t do this BUT not only didn’t they win, they got knocked out a round earlier and changes needed to happen. It’s not just Cody, they didn’t pick up Turner’s option either whom they wish to have back but on a smaller deal so $ isn’t unlimited in LA..
They need to tap the free agent market for top of the rotation SP and they’ll have competition fortunately for them there’s DeGrom, Rodon, Verlander and I suspect they’d like to make a run at Judge. I can see their involvement however just like I said when they signed Freddie “great talent BUT he doesn’t start game 1 or 2 of a playoff series so he’s more a luxury than a need”
I mean when hasn’t dominant pitching at top of the rotation and back of the bullpen NOT been a winning WS recipe?
I stick by my earlier post, I think San Francisco is the no brainer landing spot for Cody for a host of reasons the biggest being they seem to have a magic wand in restoring the value of veteran players and/or those coming off injury.
As a Dodgers fan I was never sold on Bellinger. He had his moments but never saw him as a superstar. I don’t even want him back at a reduced price. I think it’s time to move on and not worry about him producing him for another team.
I can see him improving if he goes to hitter parks like Rockies, Reds, Phillies, Yankees, or Texas.
Dude needs to stop smoking that Mary Jane. He is CLEARLY high in most of his photos
If it’s the weed, why was he a known stoner when he hit almost 50, yet it’s the reason he has no power now?
He sucks now because the ball isnt juiced anymore. This dude cant actually hit 50 Homeruns. He and Yelich were the biggest beneficiaries of the juiced ball. They have both stunk since it was removed. But this dude being stoned all the time during games ain’t helping
If signing him turns out to be a mistake, at least it’ll be a short-term mistake. Boras says he only wants a one-year deal.