With outfielder Cody Bellinger, 28, eligible for free agency, could he return to the Los Angeles Dodgers? The short answer is no.
“Bellinger will not return to the Dodgers this offseason,온라인카지노” Dodger Nation reported on Sunday.
Bellinger is eligible for free agency after this season.
“FA Lloyd,” a portmanteau of free agency and steroids, is a term used to describe players who perform well just before they become eligible for free agency.
Bellinger was one of them. In 130 games, he batted .307 (153-for-499) with 26 home runs, 97 RBI, 95 runs scored, and an OPS of .881. It was his best performance since winning the National League MVP in 2019 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, when he hit .305 with 47 homers, 115 RBIs, and a 1.035 OPS.
Bellinger has struggled the last two years. In 2020, he batted .165 with 10 homers, 36 RBIs, and a .542 OPS, and in 2021, he batted .210 with 19 homers, 68 RBIs, and a .654 OPS. The Dodgers had no reason to keep Bellinger around. They released him after the season and called it quits.
After leaving the Dodgers, Bellinger signed a 1+1 year deal with the Chicago Cubs. The deal pays him $17.5 million this season, with a $12.5 million option for next year. Given his resurgence this year, it’s unlikely that Bellinger will exercise the $12.5 million option next year.
Bellinger is likely to declare free agency. Even the local U.S. media is curious about Bellinger’s future.
“Bellinger is expected to become a free agent this offseason and sign a lucrative multi-year deal,” the outlet noted.
However, a reunion with the Dodgers is unlikely.
“The Dodgers are young in 2023. They turned to rookie James Outman in center field for most of this season, and it paid off. Outman has been a fan favorite all year. He’s made highlight-reel catches,” he said, noting that Bellinger was less needed.
“Bellinger may also have no desire to return to the Dodgers. The Dodgers front office was planning to use Tracy Thompson in center field after the 2022 season. That decision may have irreparably damaged Bellinger’s relationship with the Dodgers.”