Former Dodger and former Dodgers fan-favorite Cody Bellinger will make his first and much-anticipated return to Dodger Stadium this weekend, as his new team, the Chicago Cubs, are in town for a three-game series against his old team, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

As every Dodgers fan knows and as a surprise to absolutely no one, the (now) 27-year-old Scottsdale, AZ native and fourth-round draft pick by the Dodgers in 2013 out of Hamilton High School in Chandler, AZ was non-tendered a free-agent contract by the Dodgers following the 2022 season and signed a very lucrative one year/$12.5 million contract with the Chicago Cubs on December 14, 2022, which includes an equally lucrative $12.5 million team option for 2024.

The painful reality is that Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman (et al.) was simply unwilling to offer the kind of money that super agent Scott Boras (often referred to as “The Baseball Antichrist“) was seeking for the 2017 Rookie of the Year, 2019 NL MVP, two-time All-Star, and 2019 Gold Glove and Silver Slugger outfielder.

During his six seasons with the Dodgers, Belli slashed .248/.332/.487/.819, with 152 home runs and 422 RBIs – certainly decent numbers, but not numbers that Friedman considered worthy of the kind of free-agent money that Bellinger and Boras were seeking and ultimately received from Chicago.

Through his (thus far) 11 games with the North Siders this season, Bellinger is slashing a Bellinger-like .238/.298/.405/.703, with two home runs and nine RBIs.

It was reported on Thursday that Bellinger has agreed to meet with members of the Dodgers media before Friday’s series opener between the Cubs and Dodgers. (Yes, he is still a favorite among members of the unbiased Dodgers media, as well – including yours truly)

Play Ball!

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