There is no disputing that during his six seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2017 to 2022, outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger was a huge fan favorite.

Unfortunately, there is also no disputing that when the (then) 26-year-old Scottsdale, AZ native, Dodgers fourth-round draft pick in 2013 out of Hamilton High School in Chandler, AZ, 2017 MLB Rookie of the Year, 2019 MLB MVP, and two-time All-Star declined to re-sign with the Dodgers following the 2022 season and instead (and understandably) elected to become became a free agent and was quickly scooped up by the Chicago Cubs, a good many of those Bellinger fans were devastated, some to the point of becoming downright nasty on social media.

Bellinger’s deal with the Cubs was a monster three-year / $80 million free agent contract, with (wait for it…) an optional $5 million buyout following the second year of the deal, this after he exercised his $27.5 million player option to return to the North Siders for the 2024 season, with additional $5 million buyout options for 2025 and 2026.

Sure enough, news broke on Tuesday morning that the Cubs had traded Bellinger to the (wait for it…) New York Yankees, in exchange for 30-year-old right-hander Cody Poteet, with multiple sources reporting that the Yankees would receive $5 million to offset Bellinger’s remaining contract with Chicago, which still had two years and $52.5 million remaining on it. The deal reportedly includes a $25 million option for 2026, which he (and agent Scott Boras) can again buy out of for $5 million.

Although there were rumors (and hopes) that the Dodgers would be in on possibly reacquiring the former fan favorite, those rumors were never substaniated, and understandably so. While it would have been nice to see Belly back in his popular number 35 Dodgers jersey (with no offense intended towards 26-year-old Dodgers right-hander Gavin Stone), the simple truth is that the Dodgers don’t need him when thay already have one of the best outfields in the game today in Tommy Edman, Andy Pages, and just acquired Michael Conforto as their projected Opening Day starting outfield, with James Outman and fellow fan favorite Chris Taylor in reserve.

All of this said, it is difficult (if not impossible) for true Dodgers fans not to wish nothing but the very best for Cody Bellinger – this dispite the fact that he will now be (uggh) wearing pinstripes.

Play Ball!

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