Cody Bellinger’s days with the los angeles dodgers ended a couple of weeks ago, when the team announced that it would not offer him a contract for the 2023 season at the MLB.
It was a blow for the 27-year-old outfielder who was the 2019 National League MVP, but not a surprise. His performance hasn’t been the same in recent seasons and he finished 2022 with slashes of .210/.265/.389, 19 homers, 27 doubles and 58 RBIs.
Despite this, no one doubts that bellinger he will get a job soon, although it is presumed to be on a short contract.
There are more than 10 teams of Big leagues interested in the left-handed hitter, winner of a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger, but these are the three who have joined the search most recently.
The 2022 World Series champions are mentioned in Jon Heyman’s report as one of the teams interested in Bellinger. Despite the player’s decline over the past three years, they believe the talent is still there and need a replacement for veteran Michael Brantley, in free agency after missing much of the season with shoulder surgery.
Everything indicates that the management of the Chicago Cubs intends to be aggressive in the winter market to speed up the rebuilding of the team and Bellinger sounds among the targets they are looking for. In Chicago they are after outfield defenders and a designated hitter, among other pieces, and the former Dodgers player can serve their needs.
His experience in the battle-hardened West may be attractive to the San Francisco Giants and so is his relative low price. He was expected to win about $19 million in arbitration and may be worth less than that. Although the Giants are looking for outfielders, Bellinger’s ability to also play first base may make him his target.
