Cody Bellinger is not pitched by the Dodgers

In a move that would have been unimaginable just two seasons ago, the Dodgers decided on this Non-bid defensive player Cody Bellinger before the Friday deadline. The move makes Bellinger, the 2019 National League Player of the Year, a free agent for the first time in his career.

Bellinger was set to make about $18 million to $20 million during his last judging season. Considering Bellinger’s subpar production at the plate each of the past two seasons, that was a number the Dodgers didn’t feel comfortable paying for Bellinger, and it’s what led them to make the difficult decision.

The move doesn’t necessarily end Bellinger’s time in Los Angeles. The Dodgers will try to bring Bellinger back at a lower price, according to a source, but that will be a tall order since the quarterback market is expected to have plenty of suitors.

Bellinger’s expected large pool of suitors will be due to the prospect of him exploiting what once made him one of the best players in the league. Bellinger hit 39 homers in 2017 and was named NL Rookie of the Year. In ’19, he hit 47 homers and earned Christian Yelich his first MVP award.

This type of production became what the Dodgers and Bellinger expected, but it has become impossible to recreate. In ’20, Bellinger dislocated his non-throwing shoulder while celebrating a homer in Game 7 of the NLCS. He had off-season surgery, which sidelined him for a few weeks into spring training.

During Week 1 of the ’21 season, Bellinger fractured his left fibula during a freak play against the A’s. Dealing with injuries, Bellinger was never able to get going, finishing the year with 10 homers and a 0.542 OPS, one of the worst in the Majors. among eligible hitters.

Entering the ’22 season, the Dodgers and Bellinger were optimistic about their rebounding season. Bellinger came into spring training excited about his added strength. But results never came and he posted 654 OPS in 144 games in 22. This lack of production eventually led the Dodgers to bench Bellinger in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Padres, even with right-hander Joe Musgrove on the mound.

Bellinger will be 27 next season and still play in an elite midfield defense. The argument for offering him a contract revolved around giving him one last chance to figure things out in Los Angeles. But with the Dodgers needing to move up other roster positions, especially the starting team, his price has become too expensive at this point in the off-season.

With Bellinger off the roster, the Dodgers are slated to sign Tracey Thompson and Chris Taylor to play center field. Mookie Betts can also slip up from time to time. They will also keep an eye on free agent players such as Kevin Kiermayer.