The Los Angeles Dodgers have several players eligible for salary arbitration this offseason, including Cody Bellinger, who many believe is a candidate to be non-tendered and become a free agent.
Teams have until 5 p.m. PT on Friday to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players. Bellinger’s future with the Dodgers has been thrown into doubt after three consecutive subpar seasons.
Some of Bellinger’s struggles have been attributed to undergoing right shoulder surgery after the Dodgers won the 2020 World Series, and then a fracture in his left leg in 2021.
As the deadline to tender contracts approaches, a Bellinger trade reportedly has emerged as a possibility, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network:
While I'm told the #Dodgers have not made a final decision on Cody Bellinger's future, the chances are better than 50/50 that he will be removed from the roster via trade or non-tender by 8 pm ET today. @MLBNetwork @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 18, 2022
Although Bellinger fell short of expectations again this past season, his overall batting line and production represented an improvement from last year. He hit .210/.265/.389 with 27 doubles, three triples, 19 home runs and 68 RBI over 144 games, all the while avoiding the injured list and playing stellar defense in center field.
However, Bellinger’s on-base percentage was the second-worst among 130 qualified batters.
Should the Dodgers non-tender Bellinger, he would immediately become a free agent. That wouldn’t necessarily prevent him from re-signing with L.A., but that would allow for Bellinger to also negotiate contracts with other teams.
Bellinger is projected by MLB Trade Rumors to earn an $18.1 million salary in 2023 if going through the arbitration process for a final time in his career.
Cody Bellinger interest
As the Dodgers mull their decision on Bellinger, the Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays have been mentioned as teams who were monitoring the situation.
Although that was interpreted as likely having interest if the former National League MVP became a free agent, the Cubs or Blue Jays conceivably could emerge as a partner for a Bellinger trade.
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