December 24th, 2021 at 9:16 am 
by Ron Cervenka Shortly before 11 a.m. PT on Thursday morning, MLB Trade Rumors reported (via Twitter) that the Dodgers and outfielder Cody Bellinger have avoided arbitration, agreeing on a one-year / $17 million deal before MLB’s December 1 lockout. MLBTR linked the source as ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel.
This (verbatim) from the Passan/McDaniel article:
“The deal was not announced after the lockout, as teams are not referencing players by name during the work stoppage that has lasted more than three weeks and will stretch into the new year.
“Bellinger, 26, is coming off the worst season of his career, hitting .165/.240/.302 with 10 home runs in 95 games. His postseason performance, however, rekindled memories of his 2019 season, in which he hit .305/.406/.629 with 47 home runs and won the National League MVP award.
“Because arbitration salaries almost always increase, Bellinger will make $900,000 more than he did in 2020. The Dodgers either had to pay Bellinger in the vicinity of $17 million or non-tender him, which would have made him a free agent.
“The deal, which is not guaranteed until Bellinger makes the Dodgers’ opening day roster, represents his third time through arbitration. Following his MVP season, Bellinger set a record salary for a first-time-eligible player at $11.5 million. He is due to reach free agency following the 2023 season.”
(Photo credit – Alex Gallardo)
As of this writing, there has been no official confirmation on the deal from the Dodgers.
Stay tuned…
* * * * * *
Posted in 
ICYMI.
this is ridiculous. no increase was warranted as noted by most every projection. i still believe this kid can play. if he uses the stance and swing from the first half of 19 and the playoffs of 21, he can be worth every penny. if he continues to swing that cutlass from his knees, he’s nothing more than a late inning, defensive replacement.
$17M is roughly the value of a 2 WAR player; Cody is a .4 WAR player over last 2 seasons (negative .8 in 2021). Head scratcher for sure. Bellinger deserves the max 20% cut under old CBA. Dodgers trying the carrot approach rather than going to arbitration and ruining any type of future relationship with him (and perhaps Boras)?
speaking of future relationships, (but notably changing the subject), i wonder how many people would have preferred to pass on the mookie lifetime commitment to give CS the 10 year deal and possibly had some to extend a (hopefully) resurgent Bellinger. personally i could envision an aging 6′-4″ seager at 1st easier than i can see betts, who already has back issues in his twenties, playing left or 2nd as he approaches 40.
My opinion – If Betts was the only impediment to re-signing Seager then I think the Dodgers would have no trouble trading Betts. Even though he was bothered by the hip issue, Mookie was a 3.9 WAR player, and his presence on the field and in the clubhouse is a huge positive for team. My gut feeling is that Seager would not have returned to the Dodgers even if he got a matching offer. Like I said, just a gut feeling.
your statements are irrefutable, buuuut, did you address my question or concerns? 🙂
Jalex – I took your comment as rhetorical. My point, I don’t believe the Mookie contract had anything to do with the Dodgers ability to retain Seager
Jesse. Buehler and Urias contracts coming up soon. The money and length of contracts are becoming a huge problem for GMs ability to retain their own players.
Looking back Friedman trading for Turner was based on his belief that Seager wanted too many years.
You can win without Corey Seager. If the NL has DH our offense will be potent by adding a slugger DH style hitter to the lineup.
Rosario or Soler would be awesome.
Dodgers are fine the future is bright. We are in good hands with Friedman. Go Dodgers.
It will be interesting to see what Friedman does with the payroll after a new agreement has been ratified by players and owners. I think an increase in the competitive balance tax threshold is very likely which will help the Dodgers, but I can also envision the Dodgers off loading some players in order to retain the younger stars of the present and future.
You are clearly as big of an Andrew Friedman fan as I am, Steve (although I also have personal reasons).
As you astutely noted, when Seager declined Friedman’s eight-year/$250 million contract extension during Spring Training 2021, he absolutely positively punched his ticket out of LA and Trea Turner’s into LA.
The Dodgers stove is about to get VERY hot.