Dodgers Analysis: Does a Cody Bellinger Reunion Make Sense for the Dodgers?

LOS ANGELES, CA—Entering the 2026 offseason, there aren’t many areas of improvement for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are coming off yet another World Series title after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in the Fall Classic.

However, one area the team must address this winter is its outfield, with multiple players hitting free agency, including fan-favorite Kiké Hernández and Michael Conforto, who was a disappointment after signing a one-year prove-it deal with Los Angeles.

Although the Dodgers operate in the large Los Angeles market and maintain a substantial payroll, attracting several top free agents, such as four-time All-Star Kyle Tucker, they might also pursue another popular player: Cody Bellinger.

Bellinger, 30, is entering free agency for the third time in his career. He was non-tendered by the Dodgers after the 2022 season and is now testing the market again following a strong year with the Chicago Cubs at the end of 2023.

With the Cubs acquiring Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros, Chicago opted to ship off Bellinger and his remaining $27.5 million salary to New York, where he’d have another solid season with the Yankees.

Many fans have been vocal about a potential reunion with Bellinger, given the Dodgers’ need for an outfielder. Does it make the most sense for that to happen?

The Pros

Since leaving Los Angeles after the conclusion of the 2022 season, when the Dodgers lost in the National League Division Series to their National League West rival, the San Diego Padres, Bellinger has rebounded well after losing his footing in 2021 and 2022.

In his first year outside the Dodgers organization, the Cubs gambled on Bellinger, who achieved a 135 wRC+, his best mark since his MVP season (161). He also hit 26 home runs and maintained a batting average above .300 for the season.

Still, when Bellinger tested the free agent market, not much was there with the left-handed hitter settling for a short three-year deal with multiple opt-outs.

After taking a step backwards in 2024, with his wRC+ falling to 108, the Cubs shipped Bellinger to the Yankees, where he’d put together his best overall season since 2019.

In his lone year in the Bronx, Bellinger slashed .272/.334/.480 with a 125 wRC+ along with 29 home runs and a combined 4.9 fWAR, helping the Yankees secure a second consecutive postseason berth before ultimately falling to the eventual American League Champion Toronto Blue Jays in the ALDS.

Bellinger was a valuable member of the Yankees with the bat and on defense, where he showcased his versatility playing all three outfield spots and first base if needed, something that will help him in free agency.

Defensively, Bellinger maintained his status as one of the better defensive players in baseball, holding a 93rd percentile ranking in OAA, along with a 91st percentile ranking in Arm Value and Fielding Run Value.

However, what’s even more impressive with Bellinger this past season was his ability to hit left-handed pitching, an area he struggles with throughout his career.

Overall, Bellinger hit .353 with a 180 wRC+ against southpaws during the 2025 season, striking out just 9.7% of the time and posting an elite 1.016 OPS.

Upon a fit in Los Angeles, it is there with the Dodgers needed an outfielder and a potential replacement at first base once Freddie Freeman’s contract expires at the end of the 2027 season.

Then you have familiarity with the Dodgers, having drafted Bellinger, watched him rise through their minor league pipeline, and spent six seasons with the Dodgers, winning multiple honors such as NL Rookie of the Year in 2017 and the NL MVP in 2019, and breaking a 30-plus-year World Series drought in 2020.

The Cons

If any team were to get a Cody Bellinger contract pause, it would be the Dodgers, as they’ve had the whole experience already. The Dodgers are the lone team to see Bellinger at his peak (2017, 2019) and at his worst (2021, 2022), with the latter forcing them to move on.

During Bellinger’s final two years in Los Angeles, the left-handed hitter struggled mightily, slashing a combined .193/.256/.355 with a .611 OPS and 66 OPS+ and a collective -0.3 bWAR in 239 games played.

With no rebound in sight, and Bellinger estimated to clear north of $20 million in his final year of arbitration, the Dodgers opted to non-tender the former Rookie of the Year and MVP winner.

While Bellinger has rebounded over the last three seasons, changing his game with a more contact-heavy approach but also having 30 home run potential and above-average defense, the Dodgers know Bellinger better than anyone, and that’s where his contract demands would cause some doubt in a reunion.

Bellinger is likely seeking a final long-term deal, as it is likely his last shot at doing so entering his age-31 season in 2026.

In Bellinger’s previous two stents in free agency, he was unable to get a multi-year deal, instead settling on just a short-term deal with opt-outs, hoping to have another crack this offseason.

By all measures, multiple media outlets have Bellinger projected to get a 6-8 year deal which could exceed $200 million, but with the Yankees on the hook for Trent Grisham’s $22.025 million 2026 salary, and the Toronto Blue Jays expected to be all in on free agent Kyle Tucker, the only team that truly fits Bellinger’s skillset are the Dodgers.

Consensus

For Bellinger to return to Los Angeles, a lot needs to happen, but the most significant event would be his market-shirking, leading the Dodgers to strike a deal they feel comfortable with.

I would assume the Dodgers won’t want to go past five years with Bellinger, and likely not want to exceed a $30 million AAV (average annual value) either, but with multiple teams seeking star talent, a team could be desperate enough to give Bellinger what he wants.

Still, at the end of the day it would be up to what Bellinger wants, and with him still having a close relationship with multiple members in the organization, we could see him return to the team that drafted him, while also giving him a shot at redemption and a way to build on his legacy and help the Dodgers secure their third consecutive championship.

Still, I believe the Dodgers’ max is somewhere in the range of a 5-year, $150 million offer with deferments. Can it get the job done? Will see.

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