Dodgers Rumors: 2 NL West Rivals Among Top Landing Spots for Former LA MVP Cody Bellinger
Cody Bellinger had a breakout season in his first year outside of Los Angeles in 2023. The former Dodgers MVP was able to revitalize his career in Chicago, as he hit .307 with 26 home runs, 97 RBIs and an OPS of .881, all his best since his 2019 MVP season.
It was clear Bellinger needed a change of scenery to get his career back on track, and his decision to bet on himself with a one-year deal last offseason sure paid off.
Bellinger is now entering the offseason as one of the top free agents on the market, and is sure to cash in on a huge deal in free agency.
Over at Bleacher Report, Zachary D. Rymer picked the top landing spots for Bellinger in free agency, and has two NL West rivals at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots.
At No. 3, it was the disappointing San Diego Padres:
"The Padres would have the option of starting Bellinger in center field over Trent Grisham or at first base over Jake Cronenworth, either of whom could move into a reserve role. And even if Soto does get traded, his bat would fit nicely alongside those of Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts and Fernando Tatis Jr."
Then, at No. 2, it was the team who just stole San Diego's manager in the San Francisco Giants:
"Bellinger seems like the type who could wear out Triples Alley in right-center field. And with so much ground to cover out in center, his defense would be more valuable in San Francisco than it would be most anywhere else."
I don't think Dodger fans want to imagine Bellinger in either of these uniforms, as he would most certainly torment LA in their NL West battles.
This year against LA, Bellinger slashed .333/.467/.833 with three home runs in 30 at-bats. He would be more than happy to continue dominating LA as a member of an NL West foe.
Bellinger's free agency will be a big thing to watch all offseason long, as he's sure to make himself quite the payday after a bounce back 2023 campaign.
