With former MVP Cody Bellinger projected to earn $18.1MM in his last year of arbitration eligibility, there has been plenty of speculation that the 27-year-old might not be tendered a contract. Los Angeles president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman was non-committal about Belllinger’s situation, telling reporters (including Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register) that the Dodgers “still very much believe in Belli’s ability,” and that the club has “time to work through what everything looks like” prior to Friday’s deadline.
Unsurprisingly, Bellinger’s agent Scott Boras was quick to downplay the idea of a non-tender, as Boras highlighted his client’s excellent defense, throwing arm, baserunning ability, and age (27). “You just don’t find talents like this….It’s really about getting his strength back so he can repeat his skill level,” Boras said, noting the injuries that may have caused Bellinger’s huge dropoff at the plate over the last two seasons. Bellinger has hit only .193/.256/.355 in 900 plate appearances since the start of the 2021 campaign. However, both Boras and Friedman pointed to the idea that a normal and healthy offseason could help Bellinger get on track, as Bellinger’s regular work with the Dodgers’ hitting coaches and conditioning staff was interrupted last winter by the lockout.
Other notes from around the NL West…
- Evan Longoria said last month that the Giants, Rays, and Diamondbacks were his preferred destinations for his final season, with the D’Backs listed alongside Longoria’s two former teams because the veteran third baseman has a home in Arizona. As such, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports that the Diamondbacks are indeed expected to check in on Longoria in free agency. The 37-year-old has hit a solid .252/.333/.466 with 27 homers since the start of the 2021 season, but injuries have limited Longoria to 589 PA and 170 games. Josh Rojas’ versatility would allow for Longoria to get some time at third base and at DH, and the D’Backs are looking for right-handed hitting in general. As Piecoro notes, Longoria has some extra appeal as a veteran leader on a young team.
- Also from Piecoro’s post, Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen told reporters that “we have had half the league, at least, talk about our outfielders.” With so many left-handed hitting young outfielders on the roster, it isn’t surprising that teams are eager to discuss trades about Arizona’s surplus. However, Hazen quieted rumblings that a trade would occur soon, saying “we’re just starting to get a handle on what type of offers we could make and what makes sense for us to help our major league team.”
- It doesn’t appear as though Pierce Johnson will re-sign with the Padres, a source tells Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Elbow tendinitis cost Johnson most of the 2022 campaign, as he pitched only 14 1/3 innings over 15 appearances in the regular season and then 4 1/3 more frames during the playoffs. The 31-year-old Johnson had strong (3.09 ERA, 32.1% strikeout rate) numbers over 78 2/3 innings in 2020-21, albeit with a high 11.1% walk rate. Since San Diego seems to be moving on, Johnson and his excellent curveball could be an intriguing bounce-back target for the many teams looking for bullpen help in free agency.
Boras: “It’s really about him (Bellinger) getting his strength back so he can repeat his skill level.”
WTF are you talking about Scott??? I didn’t know Belli “lost” his “strength.” Is that the missing link here??? Strength??? Would expect something much smarter and accurate out of his mouth..
He had shoulder surgery prior to the 2021 season, which is probably what caused his fall from MVP level talent to Chris Davis clone.
Well aware King. That was 2 years ago. The man is at full strength…What does strength have to do with him looking in the 1B dugout as the pitch crosses the plate? Or trying to pull pitches on the outside corner?
Oh, okay. Yeah, the idea that Bellinger would have been his old self if not for the lockout is pretty silly, but that’s Boras for you. Pretty sure he’s toast, at least as anything more than 4th OF/depth guy, which is sad. At least he was able to bank some good money through arbitration early in his career though.
Ever have a shoulder injury and shoulder surgery?
It’s no picnic. 2 years is a long time I will agree, but it may be a combo of the recovery/strength regain plus his timing, getting his swing locked in and mentally he coukd be all over the place.
Would I pay $18m to find out? I agree, I probably wouldn’t…but I think his issues are both legit and overcomable.
The Dodgers got a dirt fricking cheap MVP out of him, so I don’t blame him for wanting the $ talked about either.
Non tender re-sign for $14ish?
I don’t know. I think a change of scenery (maybe Wrigley??) with a young, rebuilding team, might flip the switch for him. They have a need in CF and he’s due for a turnaround at the plate.
He’d hit 0.009 better than Trent Grisham did for the Padres…
How many millions does Boras want?
Yeah. I have had shoulder surgery. And finger surgery. And wrist surgery. The man is fit as a fiddle. Let’s everyone let the strength thing go…Boras can defend himself.
…. So you pretend you don’t know what Boras is talking about, then you dismiss the actual reason?
Go ahead, list the power hitters who had shoulder surgery and immediately came back and produced at the same level offensively. I’ll wait. Most guys need an offseason to rehab and another to rebuild strength, at least. Other injuries slow that process down. For example, the multiple leg injuries Cody has had in the last 24 months?
No, Bellinger is not at full strength. He has been rehabbing injury after injury since his shoulder surgery. Rehab and strength building are two very different types of workout routines. But I’m sure you know all of this too
And if you can’t figure out why Boras doesn’t want to highlight Bellinger’s shoulder surgery knowing his client could be a FA in 5 days, well, good luck
Before McCourt, some other person said it was his “shoulder strength” that Boras was referring to! I was responding to that! I PERSONALLY do not believe that is what Boras was talking about. Stop looking for a fight. I could run circles around you talking about Bellinger OR sports injuries. Don’t want to hear it.
The fact you insulted me by saying I was playing dumb is more than sufficient reason to block you. Adios amigo!
Go ahead, run your circles. But don’t trip now
Start with that list of power hitters who immediately come back with no negative impact to their power. I’m eagerly waiting.
I can list recent dodgers who never were the same hitter after shoulder surgery. Just in the last decade, Hanley Ramirez, Matt Kemp, Adrian Gonzalez, and Bellinger have seen their power decimated post surgery for a substantial amount of time. That’s four guys with MVP offensive talent who were never the same, due to their respective shoulder injury. That’s just one team and without the benefit a single internet search to remember lesser players, like Edwin Rios. There’s another!
Hahaha I insulted you? Aww don’t cry now
Stand behind your puffed out chest. Defend your position
Hahaha blocking me because he can’t prove a point. Trumbo, whyd you’d get so defensive so fast?
Resign for $5 ish with option year.
Look at the ABs that Bellinger takes. It’s nothing about the shoulder. It’s what’s in between the ears. He’s a lost hitter at the plate. I don’t care what kind of shoulder he has, good or bad, it’s not impacting his high K and chase rate. He’s still a very good defensive CF but nothing close to $18mm, and not sure the Dodgers can afford a roster spot if he’s going to hit 0.200 again.
C’mon now at what point do you move on from the shoulder surgery excuse. 2 years ago and nothing to point that Bellinger is back on track. Even the Dodgers rode that excuse to try to get Bellinger to think positively.
At some point it’s not the shoulder. And if it still is at what point do you say he’s damaged goods then. Can’t go both ways.
Boras is of course going to fall back on shoulder. That sounds a lot better than he’s a broken hitter with significant issues at the plate and he may never get back to being half the hitter that he was at his peak.
Would have made sense if it was 2021. That was a lost year for him. 2022 made little sense as he was pretty much active most of the year. I say the $18 mil is a risk, but one you take unless there is already someone ready to take over with the same defensive results. If it were anyone not the Dodgers they would/should cut bait. I think it’s best to make him prove it, and if he struggles you bring up or trade for a replacement mid season even though you are eating the contract.
StreakingBlue, I like it. Makes sense to me.
It still surprises me that arb does not include a pay reduction option for those coming off injuries or bad years. While players affected would not be happy, they should be happy to still receive a paycheck that most non players only dream about. Just make it in the next CBA that the difference has to be spent on others. Maybe even agree that those funds have to be used on other arb eligible players. Also, don’t release arb decisions separately. Rather, hold decisions to release all at once.
Gotta love dodger apologists
2015, for a player to come back 100% from shoulder surgery, I expect him to need at least one offseason where he can focus on strength building. Not rehab, solely strength building. Bellinger has not had that, yet. He’s been rehabbing other injuries, including a different surgery altogether. For example, think how Corey Seager looked after his TJS and hip surgery before the lockout vs. 2020. Seager benefitted from the lockout time to simply workout.
To me, Cody looks like he doesn’t trust his shoulder to swing like he did before, hence the other BS he’s been doing in the box the last two years. I’m not defending his play, I’m saying I think he’s healthy enough to be on the field but not 100%. I honestly think LA may have been better off giving the first 2-3 months of last year just to strength build. The team was clearly good enough. But I’d guess he’s healthy enough to play according to the trainer and they can’t force him if there’s no injury. They’d lose a grievance. That’s all speculation in my part, but that’s my full thought. Phantom IL doesn’t fly if the player claims the team is holding out a healthy player
And I’m still waiting for Trumbo to drop that list of power hitters who immediately returned to the same offensive level after shoulder surgery. I’m sure I’ve just forgotten every example.
I’d recon any measure you use, slugging, wRC, OPS+, whatever, would show a marked drop in production for guys in their first year post shoulder surgery vs. compared to year 2.
And I’d further wager that many of the guys who are still below par in year 2 had a separate injury occur at some point post-surgery and year 2
You know that by arm wrestling with him?
Belli’s bat speed through the zone is down 3.3 MPH since 2019. Indicating less strength
His average exit velocity of balls in play is down 1.8 mph and his max exit velocity is down 5.6 mph from 2018 and 3.3 mph from 2019. Indicating less bat speed and less solid contact (barrels).
His hard hit ball % is down 7.8% indicating less bat speed and less solid contact. (barrels)
His pull percentage is down 3.4% from 2019. He is not getting around on balls like he used to caused by bat speed.
His barrel rate is down 4.4% indicating a timing issue. Probably caused by less bat speed which is an indication of less strength.
Don’t think that you can compare Bellinger’s case to Seager’s case for many reasons, including of course that they were completely different injuries. Seager has been up and down with his career stats but he’s never been down as low as Bellinger’s last two seasons. And Seager’s 2019 numbers were not that bad after coming back from injury. In fact his slugging in 2019 was about the same from 2017, the last full season before surgery. And 2021 was a great season more likely due to it being a contract year than not fully healed in prior seasons. 2021 was 3 years removed from his surgery. Believe it or not players heal quicker than that.
There is also no study that backs your findings. There have been analysis on this subject and nothing conclusive. One guy looked at various cases over a longer stretch of period and nothing alarming. Some improved, some got worse and most stayed the same. Of course small sample sizes and why posters like you bring up anecdotes.
You mentioned Hanley Ramirez and he actually posted great numbers after his first shoulder surgery in 2007, which I believe was comparable to Bellinger’s surgery. He got another one a decade later but c’mon he was a different player in 2017 versus 2007.
Kemp is another guy who was very up and down, and really difficult to judge what was the factor on any given season. He was never going to match his near-MVP season much like Bellinger, as they are just too undisciplined at the plate in discerning ball from strike, albeit Kemp has been much better over the course of a career. He had a bad season after shoulder surgery, then had another shoulder procedure the following off-season and put up good numbers the following season. Both surgeries in off-season and he played the following season. That doesn’t sound like resting it.
Similar for Gonzalez, who yes, never matched the same HR output before the surgery. But the season right after off-season surgery he put up essentially the same OPS as his best season ever. Perhaps he just became a smarter hitter not trying to hit HRs and put it in play? Perhaps some of his power just naturally declined with older age? Who really knows. Maybe there was some impact from the shoulder surgery. But it’s anyone guess.
Most importantly with Bellinger if you look at his at bats it’s not shoulder related. He’s taking softer swings because he’s a lot more unsure if he’s swinging at a good pitch. And you know what a lot of times he’s not. Seems like he’s always up there with two-strikes protecting the plate.
@Pads Fans It’s interesting that you come to the conclusion that it’s the shoulder. If you look at all the stats available for Bellinger before and after surgery, the most important and glaring difference is by far the K% and BB%. From 2019-2022: K% 16.3%, 17.3%, 26.9%, 27.3%; BB% 14.4%, 12.3%, 8.9%, 6.9%. That has nothing to do with the shoulder but everything to do with pitch recognition.
And because of this could it be that the constant chasing after pitches and hitting off-balance because you lost all sense of strike zone and pitch recognition is also impacting barrel/hard contact, etc. and not the shoulder?
I’m a firm believer of data as it is extremely useful but it’s a two-edged sword because it really can lead you astray if you come away with the wrong conclusion.
Lol blocking? For that?
Wow, your toughness in inspiring.
TheDogDays, who are you responding to?
King, also worth noting, Bellinger has been hitting like crap since after the 2019 All Star break. He had yet to be injured. He also says he dislocates his shoulder all the time. Martin Riggs type stuff apparently. His issues at the plate run much deeper than his shoulder.
He injured his shoulder the first time in late June in Colorado.
Did he cut his hair?
His GF cut it while he slept..
TRUMBO — I assume Boras meant strengthening his shoulder, which Bellinger hurt will celebrating one of his home runs with Kiki Hernandez.
Pete, the man swings as hard as Mickey Mantle in his prime. On every pitch. Where did this chatter start about him having a gimpy shoulder? His shoulder wasn’t mentioned all season. Now it is an issue??
He dislocated it in June of 2019. Then injured it again in 2020 finally requiring surgery in Nov 2020.
Oh so you mean his decline in production directly coincides with his injury? I’m stunned
Not sure why people refuse to believe it can be that simply explained. Shoulder surgery zaps power. That should be an established fact to us all by now
Did you really?
The Rays should bring him back for a farewell tour and to give him one last shot at a ring. He would probably be pretty cheap and his bat still looked really solid this year.
*Longoria, that is. Derp.
The sentimental part of me agrees but he would have to be willing to sign a very low base deal. I think the Giants are pretty much done with him. The D’Backs have DH AB’s to give so that could work in his favor.
I think the D-Backs are an excellent one-year landing spot for Longo AND for the D-Backs. I wish him well.
I can’t imagine he’ll get much more than a 1/$8mil kind of deal, if that. Even the Rays should be able to afford that.
Plus it’d probably go over pretty well with the fanbase and sell some tickets. He is one of the biggest icons in franchise history, after all.
Is .244 and 80 something games due to injury the new “really solid” these days?
Yes, a 114 OPS+ is really solid.
Based purely on that from Friedman it seems like they’ll trot Bellinger out there one last time. No success and he’ll be gone for 2024.
Googolplex, sounds about right.
No way. If they’re trying to stay under the lux tax, there’s no way they’ll blow $20m on Bellinger. They may nontender him and try to sign him for a lower number though.
He isn’t going to stay for a pay cut on “principle.” He doesn’t get tendered he’ll take a deal elsewhere.
Don’t be so sure. After his past two seasons, I don’t see how he can stand on “principle.”
Pete, he won’t have to. His agent will stand for him.
Agents advise, not make the decisions. The client makes the decisions
Pete, my reply earlier came out wrong. I was re-reading. When I said he won’t take a pay cut on “principle.” I was referring to the Dodgers side of it…As in, “Cody doesn’t deserve such a high salary.” No big deal just trying to be clear.
Tell that to Freddie Freeman
Friedman has said almost the exact same thing before. Prediction: a buyout of his last year of arbitration with a one-year extension. Total value anyone’s guess but probably not a lot more than he’d get in arbitration for one.
As a Padres fan, I’d love to see bellinger start for the next 3 years for the dodgers, need someone to bring down that offense a tad
Bellinger needs a learn how to shorten his swing and make contact.
Send him to the Royals lmao
I get LA prints $, but Bellinger at that price vs production? Is it cost effective….?
Turner is gone and the other Turner is a platoon guy at this point….But hey they win a ton more games than anyone else…
Whatever they do, will work I guess….
Cost effectiveness, not a thing in baseball. At least not for winning teams.
BlueSkies_LA;
Don’t know about that…..
The Astros surely do it. The Braves. The Rays. The 2 top up-and-coming teams: Guardians and Orioles. There are others. Even the Yankees and Red Sox have been heading that way.
I really liked Friedman since he started with the Rays. I understood Mookie’s contract. But he lost me with the Bauer contract, and that was before the mess started. I’d guess his spending is being reined in some this year – we’ll see.
The Astros, Braves, Red Sox, and Yankees are consistently top-10 payroll teams. Most of them, top five. The Rays not so much, but then they aren’t always competitive. The Orioles are a classic tear down and rebuild team. They’ll maybe become competitive for a couple of seasons then tank again.
Last time the Rays did not make playoffs was 2018; even that year they had ninety wins. I believe only a few teams have made playoffs more often since 2008: LAD, NYY, Bos…I don’t think I am forgetting anyone, as even Houston was non-competitive until 2015. So yeah, they’ve been consistently competitive.
BlueSkies_LA;
I answered about cost effectiveness.
Those 4 teams have been slowly moving large salaries off their roster whose salaries are not in line what what they’re producing.
It appears the Dodgers are pulling back some as well.
I might add, most MLB teams are headed in that direction, with the desperate teams not caring about cost effectiveness – Padres, Mets, Rangers, and now Giants.
Again, we’ll see.
You are both missing my point, I believe. Effectiveness and cost effectiveness are two different things. Teams are all trying to buy effectiveness, but taking a strictly cost-effective approach wins nothing in baseball.
2 year deal with team option for 2 nd year is the move for bellingr
I doubt he will do that. Someone will give him a chance to see if he can find it. The dodgers can either give him his 18m or outbid any other teams offer in free agency. Center field is one of the weakest positions in the league.
Belli will not get more than single digit millions after he is non-tendered. The question for him is do you want to gt that as a Dodger and be assured a playoff trip or get it elsewhere.
Not a chance he’ll do that. His agent is Boras and he’ll be 28 when he reaches free agency. If Bellinger bounces back to be a productive bat, some team will offer him a nine-figure contract. If not, take a one-year deal for ’24.
first thought was he for-sure wont be offered that money then on second thought-no more shift, might be a mistake not to bring him back
I think you may be right. The lack of shift would more than likely change the outlook for Bellinger for the better.
Dodgers non-tendering Bellinger could be like the Cubs non-tendering Schwarber to save money after the 2020 shortened season.
Another team will be more than happy to give him a chance to get right and figure it out again.
The Cubs didn’t Non Tender Schwarber because of money, They Non tendered him because he had no position to play. Then Ironically, The NL came in with the DH and they looked pretty stupid, But nobody knew that was going to happen that way.
Everyone knew it was going to happen. It was a money thing for the big market Cubs
The NL had been talking about adding the DH for 40 years. Cubs got tired of waiting and then it happened. Saying you knew is just a complete lie.
It happened 2 seasons after non tendering him, so it’s not like it “just happened” he went and played for the nationals red Sox and Phillies since, not like the cubs should have kept holding on to him hoping
Has anyone suggested Belli was maybe “enhancing” his performance?
Wouldn’t he be subjected to testing like the rest of the players in the league?
Extremely doubtful he was juicing. The league adjusted to him and he couldn’t adjust back. His plate discipline and approach are garbage.
They non-tendered him because of performance–you can always find a spot for a guy who can hit. Still, that misses the point. Chicago totally screwed up on that one. Check that 2021 lineup and tell me who would not have been bumped for him.
Boras has to know that if Bellinger is non-tendered, they at most he’ll get is a $12M deal elsewhere. Teams can offer up to a 20 percent pay cut in arbitration, but it’s not worth the risk of losing in the arbitration hearing when the player is seeking a raise solely based on service time. The Dodgers should offer Bellinger a roughly 10 percent cut at $16M, and if he rejects it, then non-tender him. He’s worth a gamble, but not a raise…
*THEN at most he’ll get is a $12M deal…
If they offer him a 10% cut, that would be a tender. There’s no backsies in baseball.
They can agree to whatever they work out before the non-tender deadline, and pay cuts of up to 20 percent are allowed. If they agree to something, it’s simply means they’re avoiding arbitration. You don’t have to wait until January to do so…
At most he will get an $8 million deal somewhere else. More likely he will get a deal around $3-5 million with an option year with a $3 million buyout to guarantee him $8 million.
He has hit .203 with a 74 OPS+ over the last 3 seasons. Its not like its just one bad season. He is not worth much.
Which is why I hope the dodgers keep him,
“However, both Boras and Friedman pointed to the idea that a normal and healthy offseason could help Bellinger get on track, as Bellinger’s regular work with the Dodgers’ hitting coaches and conditioning staff was interrupted last winter by the lockout.”
That would make sense if he was the ONLY player that was interrupted. But everyone else seemed to do OK. At the very least, most did better than .this guy.
The ENTIRE Detroit lineup calls “Me, too!”
He’s the guys agent. You expected….”My client stinks right now. We’re hoping he gets lucky this offseason because there’s no hope of him rebounding.” The Boras haters make zero sense.
Plenty of reason to dislike him, but I agree–what else would he say?
If Bellinger isn’t non tendered and Nimmo would want too many years, Then Hoyer and Hawkins will have to get creative to fill CF short term as the other options are putrid. Anybody else would be no better than Ortega who needs to go. Happ can be a trade chip for a CF or a 3B while there are other options that can play LF available not so much in CF. Since the 2 in house options are now injured and PCA shouldn’t be rushed it’s going to be a challenge.
Yeah because let’s let Boras run our FO. Bellinger needs to be someone else’s problem. Throwing more at him isn’t going to fix the ever changing stances and lousy swings
Wonder if johnson isn’t actually healthy. The injury he had can turn into Tommy John pretty often. Probably don’t want to take that chance. If johnson is healthy is a quality reliever.
Interrupted? He actually more time to get ready (at least on his own) with the lockout
My guess — Bellinger DFA’d (with LA figuring to renegotiate). Cubs sweep in and sign him.
We all know the way Boras thinks. He wants Bellinger to be paid as if this were three years ago. Boras wants this year to be a highly compensated pillow contract. If Bellinger isn’t tendered, then he becomes a free agent, and can sign with anyone, but Boras still will see it as a pillow unless he can convince a team to make a multi-year offer with player opt-outs. Dodgers have plenty of money, but because they are in CBT penalty land the actual cost is higher. So, is it worth it? If Bellinger has a decent to good year, he’s looking for a big FA contract in 2024. So the most the Dodgers get out of him is a good year, if he could do it, plus a draft pick, if they choose to do a QO. The worst is cost.. Eh, he’s almost certainly gone anyway.
I will never understand the Boras obsession. Bellinger like any another player will be paid what one of the 30 teams is willing to pay him.
I could have written my comment more clearly. As you said, Bellinger is worth what one of 30 teams are willing to pay him. But he can be purchased “retail” by the Dodgers by tendering him what amounts to $18M. They can then use the QO if he happens to be good in 2023. But $18m is almost certainly worth more than he’s been playing for the last two years. It’s possible if Bellinger is not tendered the open market might value him at 1/2 to 2/3 that. Some agents might be willing to go to the Dodgers and work out an extension…maybe three years at $13M per, with an opt out after the second year. If Bellinger does great, he opts out and is a (youngish) free agent. If not, he’s locked in a very good payday for three years. These types of contracts are more common when the player has been injured as essentially out. Bellinger doesn’t quite fit that description. I just think it’s an interesting situation.
The situation is interesting in a way, but certainly not unique. The Dodgers are making noises like they’d like to figure out how to keep him on the roster. The incentive on their side is the shortage of good CF alternatives internally or on the market. This is an advantage to the player, but he and his agent have to know that a longterm contract in free agency is likely out of the question. To the advantage of the Dodgers is the team control, which gives them some leverage. So I believe the scenario you suggest is a real possibility. We’ll know in a few days.
Its most likely that the open market doesn’t value him at any more than 1/3 of that $18 million or even less.
If he has a good agent, and he does, he could get a deal that guarantees him as much as $8 million including a buyout. 1/5 with option year and $3 million buyout.
He has had a .203 BA with a 74 OPS+ and 78 wRC+ over the past 3 seasons with league average defense while playing in just 75% of his team’s games.
Of the 60 OF that have had 1000 PA from 2020-2023, only JBJ has been worse with the bat than Bellinger. A half dozen had a lower WAR because they play horrible defense, but all were better with the bat.
So how much are those guys at the bottom of that list along with Bellinger getting paid? 2/9, 4/25, 5/25, estimated $3.95 million in final year of arb eligibility, and then JBJ who is a FA You seeing a pattern there?
The only exception? 36 year old Charlie Blackmon who had a $10 million player option on the end of a 6 year/$108 million deal.
With the exception of Blackmon’s deal, those contracts are the range of what Bellinger can expect to make on the market after he is non-tendered.
BlueSkies, as a Dodger fan, and someone who STILL believes Cody can turn it around, I say give him one more year. We know his D is solid and I can’t imagine his bat to be the World Series difference maker. Let’s give him ONE more year…He just might come around.
Comps are always hard to figure. Every situation comes with some unique factors and the player market changes constantly too. And one thing I’m pretty sure the teams don’t do as part of their decision-making process is sharpen their pencils and make WAR/dollar calculations. If the Dodgers don’t find a way to retain Bellinger then they have to go shopping for someone to play CF. They don’t have good internal options and the free agent market isn’t exactly overflowing (and would require a longer-term commitment than they probably want to make). So I’m saying that the situation argues for them figuring out something with Bellinger covering a couple of years. I’m not real big on guessing the dollars (a good way to be wrong), but I suspect two years with a figure in the low 20s could work for both sides.
Because of the tender situation, if they want him back without paying an arbitration-based salary, it probably has to be on a two year deal, at least. That’s where I’m placing my bet, a whole dollar three-eighty.
Longoria a leader…in what, days off?
There were numerous reports throughout the summer about what a veteran presence–and mentor to the younger players–Longoria was in the Giants clubhouse. At the right price, he would be nice piece for AZ to split time as a 3rd baseman and DH. If he can stay healthy, he is a low-cost, experienced addition to a young Diamondback team..
Bellinger’s game fell apart in the 2nd half of the 2019 season after he dove for a ball in a game in Colorado. It has deteriorated since then.
His defense used to be elite. This season it was league average or a little better
Even shoulder surgery in November 2020 has not helped turn his game around on offense or defense.
I think its a given that he will be non-tendered. The Dodgers will be the favorite to resign him, but at far less than the $18 million he would make in arbitration. Single digit millions. Maybe with an option year.
Is that so? Was it the Colorado series at the end of June or end of July? I don’t remember, because Bellinger’s OPS was .908 for the rest of the year after the June series, and .912 from the July series on.
This myth that Cody Bellinger dropped off the table in the second half of 2019 just won’t die. He was white hot in the first three months, and extremely good, still one or the best hitters in baseball, for the second half, regardless of when you deem the “second half” to begin.
June 28th is the game he dove for that ball and dislocated his shoulder the 1st time. He had a .356 BA, .719 SLG and a 1.173 OPS going into that game. He hit .256 with a .534 SLG and the .908 OPS you mentioned after that game.
His performance dropped off the table. You can try to say that it didn’t and you would be wrong. The facts are clear. He was still good the rest of the season, but compared to before the injury his performance was severely lower.
It only got worse from there because he didn’t get that shoulder surgically repaired that 2019-2020 offseason and dislocated it several times during the 2020 season including celebrating his home run in the WS
The result has been a .203 BA, .376 SLG, .648 OPS and 74 OPS in 2020-2022.
If they non-tender him, it’s a good bet he will not be re-signed by LA because of…..Scott Boras. If they do decide that the 18 mil won’t fit their plans, I would bet that he is traded before they would non-tender him. If there is a team that really wants him, they would trade for him (get him for a year) before he hits the open market.
Bellinger’s going to be a free agent. He peaked early and hasn’t shown anything to suggest he’ll return to elite status. All the skills Boras highlighted can be had for the MLB minimum.
It’s pretty clear that Bellinger’s success was a product of sign stealing. He fell off after the crackdown. Plus he was one of the more loudly outspoken critics of the Astros, which makes him extremely suspect…
If LA wants a much cheaper CF that hits like current Belli they should trade for Victor Robles of Nats and his $1.6 M salary. Oddly he was Nats number1 OF prospect ranked better than Soto. So much for that rating.
Cody needs to change the strain he’s smoking. Maybe more of the lighter sativa than the heavy indica before games , Cody?
007 wins comment of the day. This is FREE advice Cody I hope you see this..
007, truly hilarious and accurate though haha. Made my night.
Less OG Purps…More Sour D.
Pretty sure if he’s not a Dodger , Blue Jays his preferred destination.
Weed shops on every corner here.
NBA players’ favourite place. Weed and strip joints. Free for all.
Why is everyone talking about smoking weed.
Firstly, it DOESN’T impair your motor skills. So bat to ball functionality is not compromised
Second, Bat Belly in front of Vlad….. he’s going to see strike after strike. If he can’t hit 275 with 30 HR there he’s done
I’d LOVE the Jays to get him for basically free. And have him thump the Dodgers in the WS next year.
Someone that good abd this young doesn’t just forget how to play. The injuries are real, if he’s able to recuperate, recover and rest…..
I see no reason he can’t be a big contributing factor to a winning team not named the Dodgers
He fits the Jays needs way too well. LhH CH pop and speed.
Pls let him go LA
You lost me at Blue Jays in WS there Cheech.
Nasty.
Bellinger Click Bait. Nothing new here. Scroll on..
Does anyone know why we still get “alerts” from people we have Muted?
System probably didn’t plan for a guy posting on a sports site and then muting 50 guys that disagree with him!
Why 50?
What about 5 or 6?
??
I think Johnson led the league in HBP in 2021. Then he got hurt. Makes sense that the Padres are not looking to bring him back.
Cody Bellinger LOL
I’ll really like the Yankees and dodgers be trade partners for bellinger. The yanks need an outfielder/1B plus he’s a lefty in Yankee stadium the yanks could trade one of their 4 SS for him if they take one of other contracts off the Yankees books like DJL.
Bellinger’s tools are worth about$3mil, not $18 mil. This is why I am getting sick of MLB. You only have about 40 players in each league who hit over .250 making multi-millions for being a very bad hitter.
Belli has had THREE years to fix his swing, he HASN’T, time to move on! You don’t give a guy a big contract for defense “only”, those guys are a dime a dozen on the scrap heap! Time to say ba-bye!
James Outman a cheap alternative and probably a better player at this point!
If the Dodgers felt Outman was ready they probably would have given him more than a few innings with the big team last year.