The Yankees are known to have interest in reuniting with Cody Bellinger, even after Trent Grisham accepted the qualifying offer yesterday, but they will have competition. Bellinger has already been connected to the Mets and Jeff Passan of ESPN reports that the Blue Jays and Dodgers have interest in him as well.
Passan notes that the Jays want a left-handed complement to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. They have a few lefties projected to be in next year’s lineup. That includes Addison Barger, Daulton Varsho and Nathan Lukes, but there’s room for improvement there. Barger has shown signs he could be a middle-of-the-order bat but his track record in the majors isn’t especially long yet. Varsho has some home run pop but isn’t an elite hitter overall. Lukes is a pesky, contact-oriented type.
The Jays have already been connected to Kyle Tucker, a lefty swinger who happens to be the top free agent available. Bellinger hasn’t been quite at Tucker’s level for most of the recent past but he is coming off a better platform season. Passan writes that the Jays view Bellinger as an acceptable fallback to Tucker.
Bellinger just had a strong 2025 campaign with the Yankees. He hit 29 home runs while only striking out 13.7% of the time. His .272/.334/.480 batting line translated to a wRC+ of 125. He stole 13 bases and got strong defensive grades, playing all three outfield spots as well as first base.
There were some concerning elements under the hood. None of Bellinger’s 29 home runs went to the opposite field. He had a .302/.365/.544 slash and 152 wRC+ when playing at Yankee Stadium with its short porch in right field. He had a .241/.301/.414 line and 97 wRC+ on the road.
In the past, the market hasn’t always jumped on Bellinger, even when he has put up good numbers. It’s possible that is related to his unimpressive batted ball metrics, which are still present. In 2025, his average exit velocity, hard hit rate and barrel rate were all in the 36th percentile or worse.
Coming off a strong season in 2023, Bellinger reportedly went out looking for $200MM and didn’t find it. He had to settle for a three-year, $80MM deal with opt-outs. His 2024 season was mediocre enough that he didn’t even trigger the first opt-out chance. The Cubs sent him to the Yanks in what was effectively a salary dump deal, though he bounced back enough to trigger his second opt-out.
Observant Jays fans will know that the club has been connected to Bellinger throughout his ups and downs, so it’s perhaps unsurprising that they have him on the radar again. The question will be if they make him a priority with Tucker and Bo Bichette still out there. MLBTR predicted Bellinger to secure $140MM over five years, significantly less than the predictions for Tucker and Bichette but still a hefty commitment.
The Jays have a number of incumbent outfield options but there’s some flexibility in it. In addition to the aforementioned Varsho and Lukes, George Springer and Anthony Santander are likely to be sharing one corner and the designated hitter spot. There’s also guys like Barger and Davis Schneider, though those two are capable of playing the infield. Myles Straw is around as a glove-first bench guy. Signing another outfielder would likely push Lukes to a part-time position and Barger and Schneider to more full-time infield roles.
RosterResource projects the Jays for a payroll of about $233MM next year. That’s more than $20MM shy of their year-end figure in 2025. Getting back to that level would leave room for a notable addition but they would likely have to increase spending to make more than one marquee move. With needs on the pitching side of things as well, they may have to divert some of their recent extra revenue from their playoff run into next year’s team. Perhaps they will put more of a focus on Bichette but Bellinger is a possible fallback and getting both isn’t entirely impossible.
As for the Dodgers, the outfield does stand out as a place for them to add. The roster is obviously in a good place, as they just won the World Series and didn’t lose any major contributors to free agency. But if you’re looking for a place to find weak spots, the grass is a bit patchy. The Michael Conforto signing was a bust. Teoscar Hernández had an uneven season. Andy Pages had a decent year but his bat disappeared in the playoffs. Tommy Edman can play the outfield but is now recovering from ankle surgery and might be needed at second base.
Despite the need, it would be surprising if Bellinger was the solution. He was drafted by the Dodgers and spent the first six seasons of his career there but didn’t seem to part on good terms. Scott Boras, Bellinger’s agent, publicly blamed the Dodgers for Bellinger’s struggles in 2021 and 2022 after shoulder surgery. That prompted Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman to respond and defend the club. Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times was among those to relay the play-by-play of that saga back in 2023.
Given the tension there, perhaps a reunion isn’t especially likely. On the other hand, it’s not as though the situation has prevented the Dodgers and Boras from doing business. Since that spat, the Dodgers have signed Boras clients like Conforto, Blake Snell and James Paxton. If the Dodgers really want Bellinger and are willing to pay, that should win out over past squabbles.
On the other hand, it’s not clear if the Dodgers want to make a big splash in the outfield. They have also been connected to Tucker but with some reporting suggesting they might prefer to make a short-term addition as they wait for their outfield prospects to arrive. Josue De Paula, Zyhir Hope, Mike Sirota and Eduardo Quintero are all outfielders in the system and all four have been on top 100 prospect lists. They aren’t immediate fixes since no one in the quartet has reached Triple-A yet, but the Dodgers might be inclined to wait, as opposed to signing an outfielder to a mega deal. Having just won a second straight title, perhaps there’s less pressure for them to win the offseason.
Photo courtesy of Kevin Sousa, Imagn Images
Don’t forget about the Pirates. If for some reason Schwarber turns them down, we will settle for Bellinger.
Bellringer is looking north of 175 million
Ambitious goal….’Tis the season for Salvation Army.
Funny, but the Pirates could afford a Bellringer.
No
Why is auto correct changing Bellinger into Bellringer
Belli most likely is resigning with the Yankees, unless the Yankees try to sign Kyle Tucker instead(highly unlikely)
He will struggle in the NL West.
You mean the Division where he played when he won his MVP?
Why not both?
68% of Pittsburgh will have a heart attack if just one of these guys is signed. You will kill the rest of them if we sign both of them.
The health of the Burghers of Pitt is safe.
RIP
I would say that for the Yankees, Dodgers, Mets, and Phillies.
That “if” should probably be changed to “when”. Both players have spent the bulk of their respective careers playing on playoff caliber teams and neither have reached “washed-up-slugger-trying-to-hang-on-for-one-more-season” territory yet
“If for some reason”? What kind of contract do you think Ben Cherington is offering. And “settle for Bellinger”? How do you “settle” for Bellinger if you can’t sign Schwarber.
@SandlotBenchWarmer, I get your a fan that wants to the Pirates to compete, but think right.
I could be wrong but I think the original post was sarcasm at best. There is no way the Pirates can even sniff Bellinger or Schwarber, and no way Cherington is seriously pursuing either. As a Pirate fan in Pittsburgh, I see this as a lame attempt to spur season ticket renewals by vaguely suggesting that ownership may spring for real players and not the next Tommy Pham.
Pirates fans with sense!
Sarcasm is how us Bucco fans survive!
You don’t understand humor.
Start spreading the news.
I hope the Dodgers go with a short term deal and wait for the prospects. The team needs to get younger.
The old wrinkly skin with reading glasses and a walking cane. Encrpyted with wisdom of 1960
This core is great and most of it is signed for many more years.
Have to keep the pedal down and push for a modern dynasty.
Not hoping for a teardown of the current team given the core is signed for a few more years. Just hoping the plethora of outfield prospects are giving a chance in 2027.
Don’t pay the fan of the cheaters above any attention. You’re 100% right- the Dodgers lineup absolutely needs an infusion of youth. Each deep October run takes a toll on any team. That fact is only magnified with an aging roster. I’d love for two of their heralded OF prospects to be starting for them by 2027. Obviously that depends on their continued development, but that’s the hope.
Fits for the Dodgers if Bellinger took a say 2 year deal, but why would he do that? He’s looking to get paid after a good season. Albeit with huge Yankee stadium numbers and very mediocre road stats. I’d rather trade a few of the elite prospects a younger already established OF.
Cashman, please
Let Cody and tucker go elsewhere
Go with the fabulous Jasson and Jones
Are you a Red Sox fan?
Yankee fan for 55 years
Cap: Pump the brakes man. Jones is a K machine and Dominguez hasn’t hit enough to make up for his awful glove. Dominguez theoretically has the tools to be at least decent on the grass but his reads are comically bad. He’s still young but he better hit or he’s going to be a spare part player.
Sorry, I am sticking with those two until the day they retire
The uneven home/away splits in 2025 is very concerning. We also know that his 2023 numbers were “flukish” given high BABIP and low EV/hard contact. And doubt the Dodgers would give Bellinger high AAV and/or length of contract. He’d have to take a “prior hometown” discount to reunite with the Dodges. Really doesn’t align with what Bellinger is looking for financially.
Yeah, the 2025 home/road split is troubling. But as a Jays fan, his .929 OPS at Rogers Centre (albeit in 28 PA) is interesting.
I think the worry about him playing out of Yankee stadium is a little overblown. If you look at statcast he would have hit 29 home runs last seasoning if he had played all his games in Toronto for example. He has more than respectable totals in many other stadiums as well.
Besides, it’s far from unusual for hitters to do better at their home stadium. When you play somewhere often enough, it’s a lot easier to adjust your swing for that particular park.
Couple of things. Sure, it could be less impact than expected. Fully agreed.
But to analyze home impact you’d have to look at only the 18 HRs at Yankee Stadium. If you overlay them to Dodger Stadium I think 2 would not have been HRs and maybe 1 more that was close. A couple of doubles also questionable because when RF tracks back he has to account for wall versus going back at faster speed with more room at other parks. I’ll also say that he had a very cheap HR at Steinbrenner field in Tampa that’s likely an out at every other MLB ballpark. Lastly, you also have to factor in the mental/confidence level at playing in a friendlier ball park. Maybe I’m nitpicking.
It’s also the combination of a mediocre 2024 and suspect 2025 road numbers. When you put it all together there are plenty of doubts on whether he can replicate it. He of course can put up similar numbers but I think odds against it.
I really dont like the fit for Bellinger on either the Yankees or Jays. The Yankees have outfielders and already plenty of lefties. The Jays have plenty of outfielders i think they need to make a trade.
Belli is a great fit. I’m not letting JD learning defense and hitting lefties or Grisham repeating a career year get in the way of resigning him. If it’s anywhere near 6/175 he’s coming back.
I like Belli more than most I’d imagine. He’s a good bat with enough versatility to fit a lot of clubs.
Toronto could be a good fit.
I want Bellinger for the Angels but, you know, it’s the Angels.
A reunion with Bellinger would sell well with Dodgers fans. Never underestimate the importance of box office appeal. Any wounded feeling over his departure can be cured by rubbing money on it.
Money cures all ailments!
I still think the Yankees go after him hard, he provides a lot of versatility that they need. Also, his contact approach helps the Yankees lineup. But, you never know with the Dodgers, I mean that in a good way.
Belli is built for the short RF porch. Let him stay in the Bronx.
Doesn’t seem like an ideal fit, but I don’t care. Bring Cody back.
Dodger fans also remember that we are closer to 2021 Cody rather 2019 Cody.
He doesn’t need to be 2019 Cody. He only needs to be 2023, 2024 or 2025 Cody.
When talking baseball ability, the word “capable” should never be in the same sentence as Davis Schneider.
Don’t really understand your hate for Schneider, he’s a totally adequate platoon player.
I don’t know if he’s a traditional platoon guy since he hit much better against rhp thus year, but yeah, I don’t get why Deckerd hates him so much. He’s a perfectly serviceable guy off the bench with an okay bat and some positional flexibility.
I had to look up his splits and you’re right. He batted against lefties almost exclusively in the playoffs so maybe I was confused. Either way, he is a decent to good bench guy.
Out of 273 outfielders who played last year Schneider finished 68th with 1.3 fWAR. That comes in just ahead of Luis Robert while playing on the short side of a platoon with only 227 PAs. I’m sorry your ex liked his mustache or whatever but he provides excellent production for his role.
I saw this guy hit a first pitch homerun in the World Series once, can you believe that?? I don’t think I was dreaming.
Show me the Kwan, Jerry.
Or Duran.
@Bivouac-Sal
Is that your insightful wisdom you’re spreading around, that you speak of?
Time to say so long to the troll…
@Bivouac-Sal
Buh Bye!
If that’s Jerry Dipoto you’re speaking with, then yes, would be very happy with Mr.Kwan in Seattle.
Alas it’s Jerry McGuire.
@Ignorant Son-of-a-b
Kwan fits better with the Dodgers.
@Bivouac-Sal; I agree with you, I would rather see the Dodgers acquire Jarron Duran or Steven Kwan rather than Bellinger. Kwan would be good in the lead off spot & let Ohthani bat second. Better spot for Ohthani with him resuming pitching.
Clearly the Dodgers don’t see it that way with Ohtani. They could have moved him out of leadoff at any time.
Agree with Blue. Ohtani isn’t moving out of leadoff,
He would help the Jays, but not if that stops them from bringing back Bichette. I guess they made big money from the postseason and have an entire country as their market, but I still think they are just trying to drive up the Yankees’ price here before he inevitably signs in the Bronx. I don’t see how if you’re the Blue Jays you can make the World Series and then let Bichette walk, but I also can’t see them introducing two different contracts of like $175 million and $300 million.
If Bellinger doesn’t sign with the Yankees, I could see the Reds or the Brewers as a good fit, if either club has the money to spend.
Insert typical “Blue Jays are interested in …” comment here, as revealed by Cody Bellinger’s Agent in order to drive the price up.
having said that, I like the Bellinger fit in Toronto – Varsho’s a FA next year, and Lukes, Schneider and Straw aren’t everyday guys, And Bellinger could spell Vladdy at first instead of using Clement.
but I only expect one big bat assuming we can get any of them. Everyone’s screaming Tucker, but I’d be really surprised at that because a can’t see them signing Tucker and a TOTR pitcher.. Bichette’s the most likely, and Bellinger a solid plan B.
Bellinger’s performance seems so reliant on home park. Softly lofting the ball in the air doesn’t work everywhere. Statcast seems to think it should work in Toronto okay, but the park doesn’t feel that HR friendly to me. There’s been a lot of discussion around why especially Vlad’s hard hit balls haven’t gone as far as in the past. The renos might make ballpark factor unstable there as it has changed a couple of times. Roof open or closed is a factor. I don’t know. I’m not sold on Bellinger’s tricks. I think the Yankees, Reds, Astros, and Phillies should value him more than other teams.
Bellinger would check a lot of boxes for the Mets, but I think his power would shrink going from Yankee Stadium to Citi Field.
He’s a perfectly decent player, useful, fits in, but isn’t the star Boras makes him out to be. The “under the hood” stuff should give some teams pause, as should an extended negotiating period to get teams to bid up. Real possibility the back end of his contract looks like DJL.
Bellinger is a great fit for the White Sox if minority owner Justin Ishbaia was holding the purse strings AND if this was 2027 or 2028 and Cody was still 30 years old then.
I could see Arte overspending on Bellinger
In another rebuild year? Nah. Angels have at least one more tank year while Rendon is still on the roster.
Bring him back, Cash. He was a perfect fit here.
I think the Dodgers need to do better than Belli in that OF, but they also need to move on from Teoscar. They’ve already paid half of Teo’s three year deal when they front loaded it with the signing bonus, and the rest of the deal is nice and deferred for anybody who wants a pure DH. 12 mill base salary for Teo in ‘26 and ‘27, somebody will take that. If Belli replaces a traded Teo, I’m all for it.
We’ll give you Santander for him 😉
Throw in Hoffman for good measure.
you’re signing my tunes 76. agree completely!
Not sure where you are getting your numbers. He’s guaranteed $22M for next year and $15M for each of the next two. Those are both options but if he isn’t injured it converts to a guarantee. Deferrals aren’t free money. They have to be funded every year.
What a really don’t get is the big hurry to kick him to the curb after one, somewhat down year. He needs to go back to LF.
and that was an electric year offensively until the injury. think it impacted his D as well. i’m team Teo in LF. dude has an uncanny knack for the big hit in the big game. 24 WS win doesn’t happen without that bat.
He’s had some massive hits for the Dodgers for sure. But those hits have already happened, and now we are looking at the present where he is the leagues worst defensive outfielder. And if you’re building a team for the future, you need to fix what is currently the weakest spot on the roster, which is OF defense.
There was a 23 million dollar signing bonus, paid immediately after signing the deal. He made 10 mill in ‘25, with 7.5 deferred. 23+10=33 or half of the 66 million dollar deal. In ‘26, it’s 12 mill with 8 deferred, and ‘27 it’s 14.5 with 8 deferred and a club option for ‘28. He’s the worst outfielder in baseball and a liability in either right or left. Not an opinion but fact, look at his savant page. That should answer the hurry. They paid him 33 mill last year to try and win a World Series and it worked, and while doing so, made him a very tradeable asset. It was a stroke of genius that very few people noticed.
This is convoluted and hard to follow (especially the point), so I will simplify: Bellinger was guaranteed $17.5M by the Cubs in 2023, then signed a three-year $80M contract with the Cubs for 2024-26. After being traded to the Yankees, he opted out of the last year and is a free agent again. Whether the other contracts were front-loaded, side-loaded, or deferred in any way, is irrelevant to what any team will pay him today.
BTW I found no reference to any of his salary being deferred. I also won’t get into a defensive value debate. Defensive metrics are all over the place and can be used to support any argument.
I’m not talking about Bellinger’s contract. He’s a free agent. I’m talking about the 66 million dollar contract that Teoscar Hernandez signed prior to the start of the 2025 season. The details of the contract are very easy to find.
And BlueSkies; with all due respect, I know you’re knowledgeable and have been here on MLBTR a long time. But I watch every Dodgers game, and I don’t need to see any defensive metrics to know that Teo is an awful defender.
Well, that explains the cross-purposes. Not sure how that happened, but we somehow ended up talking about different players!
Definitely figured there was some miscommunication there. lol. All good. Sometimes things get lost in print. And don’t get me wrong, I love Teo, and he’s been one of my favorite Dodgers the last two seasons. But that OF defense needs work. And if they can trade Teo, and bring in Belli, I don’t think you lose too much offensively, but you gain a lot defensively.
The threading on these comment boards stinks. Makes discussions really hard to follow.
So, back on the same page: I don’t see the Dodgers trading Teo. They can upgrade the outfield defense with a signing or trade that moves him back to LF where his defensive limitations are more tolerable. I’m hearing a lot of Dodgers fans sounding like they are ready to throw him under the bus. Short memories, I think,
Yeah, I hear ya. And nothing against Teo at all, just looking at hypotheticals to improve the roster. I’d still be stoked to see him in ‘26 if he’s around. I think for me, it’s always about the name in the front of the jersey. It’s still weird seeing Snell in a Dodgers uniform, and he’s a Champ. I did not like that guy for a long time.
Teo’s irreplaceable. He gives the sunflower seed shower after every dinger….
I’ll chuckle at that. Don’t get me wrong, I love Teo, and he’s now a two time Champion in LA. But when you’re looking at ways to improve a roster, you have to look at its biggest weakness. And unfortunately for Teo, his defense is one of the teams biggest weaknesses. The Dodgers have a DH, and they have more than a few guys that are willing to spread their seed, or seeds.
Bellinger could come off the bench for the Jays. Barely.
Nobody ever signs in Toronto though except for a couple big name free agents every offseason.
Whoa whoa whoa, the Cubs trading Bellinger to NY was a salary dump? Cubs owner Tom Ricketts said
“It’s not a salary dump, the money is being repurposed”. I’m not saying he’s a liar but maybe the money was repurposed on personal things for Tom and his family because it certainly wasn’t repurposed on any additional players to help the team.
It’s nice that they’re asking but it feels like a blast email to allfreeagents@mlb.com
I’ve I’m Bellinger I would not want to return to the Dodgers after they fired him. They don’t have an everyday spot for him unless they trade Teoscar
If*. I can’t type today 😂
They do have a spot for him. They only have 1 corner outfielder right now.
Does Tommy Edman no longer play OF? Thought they overpaid him to play CF for them?
Blue Jays are in on everyone, I won’t believe it until the player is in a Jays uniform.
Cubs should have never let him go Tucker not on same level
lol
Dodgers could move Teo to left, put Pages in right and put Belli back in CF.
But only on a short term deal, and I don’t believe he’ll go for that.
The Pirates are gearing up for the best “we almost signed” off-season of all time. I think they are in on everyone.
They can be the new Blue Jays. I think they’re ready to move on from that moniker.
Aaaaaaand they’re off and running…
Jays want a lefty to complement Vlad…
to go along with Varsho, Barger, Lukes and Santander,…
4 lefties in a lineup of 9 players, is not enough.
Lukes is not a full time player, if they add a lefty OF that leaves the OF as Santander, Varsho, new guy. with Lukes and Straw as backups
Varsho isn’t even close to being a good hitter, Lukes is a 4th of type. I like Barger and think he has a big future. Santander, we’ll see if he can remain healthy
Tucker>Bo>Bellinger
If they can’t land Tucker, go in on Bo. I wouldn’t bother with Bellinger
LA doesn’t need another player 30 or older.
One thing the Dodgers like to do is bring in few players that haven’t won a world series. Friedman said it helps keep the clubhouse hungry to win for those guys.
Now we just need someone better than Conforto to replace Conforto. Probably another one year deal, but please not another Conforto…
I think Teo will be fine next year
His leg and groin injuries really impacted him in the field and at the plate. He was on an MVP type test to start the season before he got hurt. And you could see her couldn’t run in the outfield like normal. He was trying to play through it and was sucking wind. Roberts forced him to sit a come says and he promptly started popping home runs.
Hopefully Pages can get more consistent at the plate. When he was locked in he was impressive.
sane take. Pages needs to not freak out in the bright lights. solid season and solid D. maybe a psychologist.
Wow.
Autocorrect 1
Me 0
yeah the one line didn’t ruin the context of your take. wasn’t directing any derision toward you. Andy just completely froze once the team hit the playoffs.
He fell off quite a bit in the second half of the season. Pitchers make adjustments and hitters have to make adjustments of their own.
was still coming up w a hit here and there prior to his playoff disappearance. sort of beyond a slump or adjustment. looked like a he just locked up mentally to me. kid is pretty serious about the game. maybe too serious at times. forgets where he is now and again.
Well, he’s still only 24. And he did come up with the catch of the century.
Kike “I’m going to make a historic basket catch that will be replayed for decades!”
Pages “I think that speed bump said something”
Tigers to miss this one, too?
1,2,3…1,2,3…. is this mic on?
Yes, the Tigers need to add that one, two punch….
The Blue Jays might talk to Bellinger but they are not aggressively going to pursue him. 175 million for a left handed hitter with inflated NY short porch home run numbers? Get outta here