The Dodgers and Cody Bellinger crossed paths again this weekend, and the reunion carried a little more backstory than the box score suggested.
Los Angeles took two of three from the Yankees in New York in its first series back from the All-Star break, a rematch of the 2024 World Series that also put Bellinger back in front of the team where he became a star. He arrived fresh off winning All-Star Game Most Valuable Player honors, but the bigger reveal came from what happened before he ever put on pinstripes.
Bellinger said the Dodgers were among the teams that had real interest in him over the offseason before they ultimately landed Kyle Tucker on a record-setting four-year, $240 million deal.
“There was definitely a possibility [on signing with the Dodgers]” Bellinger told The California Post. “There was some dialogue there, for sure."
Bellinger said the idea of getting back to another World Series was part of what made Los Angeles appealing again. At the same time, he was thinking about stability for his family, including a daughter who is close to starting school, while the Dodgers were looking for an outfielder on a shorter-term arrangement.
Instead, Bellinger returned to the Yankees on a five-year, $162.5 million contract.
On the field, he has outperformed Tucker so far this season. Bellinger is hitting .255 with 11 home runs and 52 RBIs, while Tucker has seven homers, 47 RBIs and a .240 average.
Bellinger said he would like to see the Dodgers again in the World Series at the end of the 2026 season, but his immediate focus is helping New York get to October. The Yankees are 55-44 and sitting second in the AL East.
“Ultimately, for me, I just want to get back to the World Series,” Bellinger said. “You can’t control [what happens in] the National League, but, for me, I can control how we get there. That’s my goal.”
Bellinger’s history with the Dodgers still runs deep. He spent six seasons in Los Angeles, made two All-Star teams, won the 2019 NL MVP award and helped the club win the 2020 World Series over the Tampa Bay Rays.
After a 2020 shoulder injury affected his offense for two seasons, the Dodgers chose not to tender him a contract, and he moved on to the Cubs before the 2023 season. His career picked back up in Chicago, and he has now returned to All-Star form with the Yankees.
Even with the offseason flirtation and the move away from Los Angeles, Bellinger made it clear there’s no bitterness.
“There’s nothing but love and respect between us,” he said. “I think we accomplished some amazing things.
I know, for me, I think about the good memories over there. We had a lot of them.”
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