The Dodgers were in the hunt for Cody Bellinger last winter, and the chase was real enough that the former MVP says a reunion in Los Angeles was on the table.
Bellinger, who eventually landed with the New York Yankees on a five-year, $162.5 million deal, said there was a legitimate chance he could have gone back to the Dodgers. Asked by Dylan Hernandez about the possibility of returning to Los Angeles, Bellinger didn’t dodge it.
“There was definitely a possibility,” Bellinger told The California Post."There was some dialogue there, for sure."
That fits with how the market unfolded. MLB insider Jim Bowden had reported that Bellinger’s market was strong and that the Dodgers were among the most likely landing spots, alongside the Yankees and Mets, with New York ultimately coming out on top.
“The market for Cody Bellinger is robust with the most likely result that he signs with a big market, contending team as expected with the Yankees, Mets, and Dodgers the most likely landing spots for him at this point in that order,” MLB insider Jim Bowden posted.
ESPN’s Jorge Castillo later reported the terms of the Yankees’ agreement with Bellinger, which included opt-outs after the second and third seasons, a $20 million signing bonus and a full no-trade clause.
“The New York Yankees and outfielder Cody Bellinger are in agreement on a five-year, $162.5 million contract, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan on Wednesday, ending a standoff between two sides that preferred to reunite all winter long. The deal includes opt-outs after the second and third seasons, a $20 million signing bonus and a full no-trade clause, sources said,” ESPN’s Jorge Castillo wrote.
Los Angeles had been active last offseason and kept swinging for major additions, even after landing closer Edwin Díaz. Outfield help was one of the clear needs, which is why Bellinger became such a natural target for the Dodgers.
The two sides stayed linked throughout the winter, and they even crossed paths again over the weekend. In the end, Bellinger chose New York, but the Dodgers were clearly close enough to make this a real what-if for their fans. For a player who started his career in Los Angeles and won the 2019 National League MVP, the door back to Dodger blue was more open than many realized.
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