The Los Angeles Dodgers have interest in a reunion with outfielder Cody Bellinger, reports Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Bellinger, age 30, rose to the Majors back in 2017 with the Dodgers, where he won both the National League MVP and Rookie of the Year, hitting 39 home runs with a .933 OPS in 132 games and posting a 4.0 WAR (Wins Above Replacement). Bellinger then went on to win MVP again in 2019, arguably the best season of his career and as a Dodger, in which he hit 47 home runs and 115 RBI’s and a 1.035 OPS and 8.7 WAR.
Bellinger also had his share of down years over parts of six seasons with the Dodgers spanning 2017-2022, during which he struggled mightily from 2020-2022 before signing a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs in December of 2022.
Bellinger later signed a three-year deal after the 2023 season to remain with the Cubs, but was traded to the Yankees following the 2024 season, and then opted out of that three-year contract after the 2025 season with the Yankees, where he is now a free agent.
Dodgers Need To Address Corner Outfield
A possible reunion with the Dodgers makes sense, given their need for a corner outfielder, as Teoscar Hernandez better profiles as a DH due to his defensive woes. They do have Andy Pages, but he better fits the Dodgers’ needs in center field. Still, Bellinger’s flexibility in being able to cover all three outfield positions would undoubtedly be helpful to a Dodgers team that needs an upgrade in its corner outfield defense. It also couldn’t hurt to add another bat in an already offensive juggernaut of a Dodgers lineup.
Other teams such as the Yankees and Mets have been linked to Bellinger, according to Heyman, as well as the San Francisco Giants, states Heyman. The Yankees have been having “ongoing discussions” with Bellinger’s camp, but “a gap” remains in talks, according to Yes Network’s Jack Curry on last night’s Yankees Hot Stove.
A Once Homegrown Talent In The Dodgers System
The Dodgers know Cody Bellinger more than anybody. Once a top prospect in their farm system, they drafted him in the fourth round of the 2013 MLB Draft. He then rose to stardom with the Dodgers but struggled significantly at times. He won a World Series with them during the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020. The Dodgers are coming off back-to-back World Series championships in 2024 and 2025.
It’s not at all outlandish that Cody possibly has an interest in returning to his former team, or if there’s a mutual feeling of interest between the two sides. Bellinger’s agent, Scott Boras, drives a tough bargain with teams, in which he’s famously known for securing the best deal possible for his clients.
Bellinger posted one of his best seasons in 2025 with the Yankees, in which he hit for a .272 batting average with 29 home runs and a .813 OPS while playing well-above-average defense in left and right field. Bellinger is known to have defensive versatility, playing all three outfield positions where needed, as well as, on rare occasion, first base for the Yankees in 2025.
It will be a fascinating report to follow in the days ahead as Bellinger ultimately gets ready to make his final decision as to where he’ll likely land for the majority, if not the rest, of his entire Major League Baseball career.
Dodgers Interested In A Reunion With Cody Bellinger