Centerfielder Cody Bellinger is off the free-agent market. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that Bellinger is set to return to the Chicago Cubs, agreeing to a three-year, $80 million contract with the franchise.

According to Passan, Bellinger will receive an opt-out in each of the first two years of his deal, allowing him to hit the free agent market once again if he wishes to do so. He will earn $30 million in 2024 and 2025, while the last year of the contract comes with a $20 million salary.

After a down season in 2022 and being let go by the Los Angeles Dodgers, Bellinger inked a one-year deal with the Cubs. He enjoyed a bounce-back campaign, having a career-best batting average of .307 and adding 20 home runs, 97 RBIs, and a career-high 20 stolen bases in 130 games. Bellinger received votes for the NL MVP award while being recognized as the NL Comeback Player of the Year at the end of the season.

Bellinger was considered to be among the top free agents this winter, but his market never actually took off as he and his agent, Scott Boras, envisioned. Teams were reportedly cautious due to his previous dips in form, and with a lack of suitable offers, Bellinger opted to get a flexible contract with the Cubs.

Bellinger spent the first six years of his MLB career with the Dodgers. He is a two-time All-Star and has an NL MVP award from 2019. The Scottsdale, Arizona native also has a World Series win with the Dodgers in 2020.

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It appears that the Los Angeles Dodgers don’t think their star outfielder Cody Bellinger could turn things around after disappointing performances in the past several seasons. The franchise announced late last week that they had non-tendered Bellinger, making him a free agent.

The 2019’s NL MVP and the Dodgers previously avoided arbitration ahead of the 2022 season and settled on a one-year deal worth $17 million. Bellinger was set to earn somewhere in the neighborhood of $18 million next year.

Despite declining to give Bellinger a new contract, the Dodgers might be interested in keeping the 27-year-old player around if they miss out on their targets in free agency. However, any potential deal would likely be at a much lower number compared to this past season.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say that this is a closing of the chapter of Cody and the Dodgers,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said about the decision.

If the Dodgers don’t return for Bellinger, he might settle for a one-year, prove-it deal with a different franchise. There should be an interest in him, especially if teams believe he can recapture some of his old magic with a change of scenery.

 When he entered the majors, Cody Bellinger looked like he will be the next legendary Dodger. He earned an All-Star nod in his rookie career before winning the NL MVP honors in 2019. After that, however, things went sideways for Scottsdale, Arizona.

Bellinger has been struggling with injuries and productivity since his MVP campaign wrapped up. This was especially the case in 2021 when he only played 95 games, batting .165 and hitting 10 homers. He launched 19 home runs in 2022, but his batting average of .210 was still far below expected.

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The World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers announced on Tuesday that star outfielder and 2019 NL Most Valuable Player Cody Bellinger had undergone surgery to fix a problem with his right shoulder.

Bellinger suffered damage to his right shoulder during Game 7 of the Dodgers’ NLCS win over the Atlanta Braves while celebrating a home run with teammate Kike Hernandez.

The slugger pounded elbows with his teammate and saw his right shoulder dislocate and pop out of place. The outfielder returned to the game after suffering the injury and didn’t miss any time during the rest of the Postseason, but apparently suffered enough damage to make surgical reparation necessary.

Bellinger was one of the few surprising disappointments for the Dodgers in a magical 2020 season, as the reigning MVP hit only .239 with 12 home runs and 30 RBIs.

The 25-year-old player, however, is considered to be one of the best young players in the game and is a lock to be in the Dodgers’ lineup next season.

According to the team, the surgery, which was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, will not keep him from returning by the time Spring Training gets underway in February.

For now, Bellinger will rehabilitate his non-throwing shoulder in Arizona and get prepared for the upcoming campaign.

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Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger has won the National League Most Valuable Award for the 2019 season, it was announced on Friday.

Bellinger edged out Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich for the award, receiving 19 first-place votes as opposed to Yelich’s 10 for the recognition as the league’s best player.

It was a banner season for the 24-year-old Bellinger, who led the Dodgers to the best record in the National League. The dynamic hitter produced a fantastic .305/.406/.629 batting line on the year, smashing 47 home runs and racking up 115 RBIs on the season in 156 games.

Bellinger also got points for his contributions on the basepaths, stealing 15 bases, and as an above-average defender both in the outfield and at first base over the course of the year.

It’s the second major award that Bellinger adds to his trophy case after winning the 2017 NL Rookie of the Year Award in his debut season only a couple of years ago.

Despite falling in the National League Championship Series to the Washington Nationals in unexpected fashion, Bellinger and the Dodgers are expected to be back at full force next season and to compete for the World Series crown.

The post Cody Bellinger Takes Home 2019 NL MVP Award appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The 2019 MLB season is already one to remember. From the Dodgers’ 8 Opening Day home runs to the Angels’ combined no-hitter last Friday night, there has been plenty of excitement so far in the league this season.

There have also been unforgettable individual performances and breakout stars that have taken the next step to be some of the game’s elite most players. So, let’s take a look at the favorites for each MLB award at the All-Star Break.

NL MVP: Cody Bellinger (Dodgers)

Cody Bellinger has been the best player in the National League, powering the Dodgers to the NL’s best record with a .341 batting average and with a league-leading 33 home runs. He’s been absolutely unstoppable at the plate, and if it weren’t for Christian Yelich’s encore to his 2018 MVP year, no one else would be a close competition.

Close in the running: Christian Yelich (Brewers), Pete Alonso (Mets)

AL MVP: Mike Trout (Angels)

The best player in baseball has continued to be peerless in 2019, as he’s been baseball’s best player by the WAR metric. Trout’s 30 home runs and absurd .455 on-base percentage means that he’s on the way to the best season of a sure-fire Hall of Fame career, which is nothing to sneeze at. He is the runaway favorite.

Close in the running: Xander Bogaerts (Red Sox), Alex Bregman (Astros)

NL Cy Young: Max Scherzer (Nationals)

Mad Max looks to be the favorite to take home his 4th Cy Young Award after starting 2019 with a bang, leading the NL in strikeouts with 181 and in second place in ERA behind Dodgers standout Hyun-Jin Ryu. It’s a two-horse race at this point, but Scherzer gets the nod for having worked deeper into games than Ryu and for his gaudy strikeout totals.

Close in the running: Hyun-Jin Ryu (Dodgers), Zack Greinke (Diamondbacks)

AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander (Astros)

The lanky veteran right-hander for the division-leading Houston Astros comes out as a slight favorite in what is a very tight AL Cy Young race. It could be said that Morton, who has a better ERA, has had the better season, but Verlander has simply been the better team’s ace and has put up a 2.98 ERA in an extreme hitter’s park. He gets the edge (for now).

Close in the running: Charlie Morton (Rays), Gerrit Cole (Astros)

The post Sizing Up the MLB Award Favorites at the All-Star Break appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Cody Bellinger is having arguably the best season of any player in all of Major League Baseball this season. While he hit 64 home runs in his first two MLB seasons, and already had 27 in 2019 heading into yesterday’s home clash with the Arizona Diamondbacks, he still hadn’t produced a walk-off long ball in his young career.

That changed as he launched a walk-off home run on Wednesday night in extra innings to clinch a Dodgers sweep over their division rivals.

The 23-year-old launched a massive walk-off home run to right-center field off of Arizona reliever Yoan López to propel the Dodgers to a three-game sweep over the D-Backs and increase their division lead to an astonishing 14 games.

Bellinger’s home run, the 29th he’s hit on the season, measured 442 feet.

What’s even more astounding is that the home run wasn’t even Bellinger’s first long ball of the night. He actually hit a solo home run in the second inning in his first at-bat of the game to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.

Bellinger, the 2017 NL Rookie of the Year, looks to be the leading candidate for this year’s National League MVP honors. He’s already been named the league’s starting right fielder for next week’s All-Star Game in Cleveland, Ohio.

The second home run he hit on Wednesday night is one that he’ll certainly never forget.

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Centerfielder Cody Bellinger is off the free-agent market. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that Bellinger is set to return to the Chicago Cubs, agreeing to a three-year, $80 million contract with the franchise.

According to Passan, Bellinger will receive an opt-out in each of the first two years of his deal, allowing him to hit the free agent market once again if he wishes to do so. He will earn $30 million in 2024 and 2025, while the last year of the contract comes with a $20 million salary.

After a down season in 2022 and being let go by the Los Angeles Dodgers, Bellinger inked a one-year deal with the Cubs. He enjoyed a bounce-back campaign, having a career-best batting average of .307 and adding 20 home runs, 97 RBIs, and a career-high 20 stolen bases in 130 games. Bellinger received votes for the NL MVP award while being recognized as the NL Comeback Player of the Year at the end of the season.

Bellinger was considered to be among the top free agents this winter, but his market never actually took off as he and his agent, Scott Boras, envisioned. Teams were reportedly cautious due to his previous dips in form, and with a lack of suitable offers, Bellinger opted to get a flexible contract with the Cubs.

Bellinger spent the first six years of his MLB career with the Dodgers. He is a two-time All-Star and has an NL MVP award from 2019. The Scottsdale, Arizona native also has a World Series win with the Dodgers in 2020.

The post Cody Bellinger Agrees to a 3-Year, $80 Million Deal With the Cubs appeared first on SportzBonanza.

It appears that the Los Angeles Dodgers don’t think their star outfielder Cody Bellinger could turn things around after disappointing performances in the past several seasons. The franchise announced late last week that they had non-tendered Bellinger, making him a free agent.

The 2019’s NL MVP and the Dodgers previously avoided arbitration ahead of the 2022 season and settled on a one-year deal worth $17 million. Bellinger was set to earn somewhere in the neighborhood of $18 million next year.

Despite declining to give Bellinger a new contract, the Dodgers might be interested in keeping the 27-year-old player around if they miss out on their targets in free agency. However, any potential deal would likely be at a much lower number compared to this past season.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say that this is a closing of the chapter of Cody and the Dodgers,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said about the decision.

If the Dodgers don’t return for Bellinger, he might settle for a one-year, prove-it deal with a different franchise. There should be an interest in him, especially if teams believe he can recapture some of his old magic with a change of scenery.

 When he entered the majors, Cody Bellinger looked like he will be the next legendary Dodger. He earned an All-Star nod in his rookie career before winning the NL MVP honors in 2019. After that, however, things went sideways for Scottsdale, Arizona.

Bellinger has been struggling with injuries and productivity since his MVP campaign wrapped up. This was especially the case in 2021 when he only played 95 games, batting .165 and hitting 10 homers. He launched 19 home runs in 2022, but his batting average of .210 was still far below expected.

The post Dodgers Non-Tender Cody Bellinger, Make Ex-NL MVP a Free Agent appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers announced on Tuesday that star outfielder and 2019 NL Most Valuable Player Cody Bellinger had undergone surgery to fix a problem with his right shoulder.

Bellinger suffered damage to his right shoulder during Game 7 of the Dodgers’ NLCS win over the Atlanta Braves while celebrating a home run with teammate Kike Hernandez.

The slugger pounded elbows with his teammate and saw his right shoulder dislocate and pop out of place. The outfielder returned to the game after suffering the injury and didn’t miss any time during the rest of the Postseason, but apparently suffered enough damage to make surgical reparation necessary.

Bellinger was one of the few surprising disappointments for the Dodgers in a magical 2020 season, as the reigning MVP hit only .239 with 12 home runs and 30 RBIs.

The 25-year-old player, however, is considered to be one of the best young players in the game and is a lock to be in the Dodgers’ lineup next season.

According to the team, the surgery, which was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, will not keep him from returning by the time Spring Training gets underway in February.

For now, Bellinger will rehabilitate his non-throwing shoulder in Arizona and get prepared for the upcoming campaign.

The post Dodgers OF Cody Bellinger Undergoes Shoulder Surgery appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger has won the National League Most Valuable Award for the 2019 season, it was announced on Friday.

Bellinger edged out Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich for the award, receiving 19 first-place votes as opposed to Yelich’s 10 for the recognition as the league’s best player.

It was a banner season for the 24-year-old Bellinger, who led the Dodgers to the best record in the National League. The dynamic hitter produced a fantastic .305/.406/.629 batting line on the year, smashing 47 home runs and racking up 115 RBIs on the season in 156 games.

Bellinger also got points for his contributions on the basepaths, stealing 15 bases, and as an above-average defender both in the outfield and at first base over the course of the year.

It’s the second major award that Bellinger adds to his trophy case after winning the 2017 NL Rookie of the Year Award in his debut season only a couple of years ago.

Despite falling in the National League Championship Series to the Washington Nationals in unexpected fashion, Bellinger and the Dodgers are expected to be back at full force next season and to compete for the World Series crown.

The post Cody Bellinger Takes Home 2019 NL MVP Award appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The 2019 MLB season is already one to remember. From the Dodgers’ 8 Opening Day home runs to the Angels’ combined no-hitter last Friday night, there has been plenty of excitement so far in the league this season.

There have also been unforgettable individual performances and breakout stars that have taken the next step to be some of the game’s elite most players. So, let’s take a look at the favorites for each MLB award at the All-Star Break.

NL MVP: Cody Bellinger (Dodgers)

Cody Bellinger has been the best player in the National League, powering the Dodgers to the NL’s best record with a .341 batting average and with a league-leading 33 home runs. He’s been absolutely unstoppable at the plate, and if it weren’t for Christian Yelich’s encore to his 2018 MVP year, no one else would be a close competition.

Close in the running: Christian Yelich (Brewers), Pete Alonso (Mets)

AL MVP: Mike Trout (Angels)

The best player in baseball has continued to be peerless in 2019, as he’s been baseball’s best player by the WAR metric. Trout’s 30 home runs and absurd .455 on-base percentage means that he’s on the way to the best season of a sure-fire Hall of Fame career, which is nothing to sneeze at. He is the runaway favorite.

Close in the running: Xander Bogaerts (Red Sox), Alex Bregman (Astros)

NL Cy Young: Max Scherzer (Nationals)

Mad Max looks to be the favorite to take home his 4th Cy Young Award after starting 2019 with a bang, leading the NL in strikeouts with 181 and in second place in ERA behind Dodgers standout Hyun-Jin Ryu. It’s a two-horse race at this point, but Scherzer gets the nod for having worked deeper into games than Ryu and for his gaudy strikeout totals.

Close in the running: Hyun-Jin Ryu (Dodgers), Zack Greinke (Diamondbacks)

AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander (Astros)

The lanky veteran right-hander for the division-leading Houston Astros comes out as a slight favorite in what is a very tight AL Cy Young race. It could be said that Morton, who has a better ERA, has had the better season, but Verlander has simply been the better team’s ace and has put up a 2.98 ERA in an extreme hitter’s park. He gets the edge (for now).

Close in the running: Charlie Morton (Rays), Gerrit Cole (Astros)

The post Sizing Up the MLB Award Favorites at the All-Star Break appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Cody Bellinger is having arguably the best season of any player in all of Major League Baseball this season. While he hit 64 home runs in his first two MLB seasons, and already had 27 in 2019 heading into yesterday’s home clash with the Arizona Diamondbacks, he still hadn’t produced a walk-off long ball in his young career.

That changed as he launched a walk-off home run on Wednesday night in extra innings to clinch a Dodgers sweep over their division rivals.

The 23-year-old launched a massive walk-off home run to right-center field off of Arizona reliever Yoan López to propel the Dodgers to a three-game sweep over the D-Backs and increase their division lead to an astonishing 14 games.

Bellinger’s home run, the 29th he’s hit on the season, measured 442 feet.

What’s even more astounding is that the home run wasn’t even Bellinger’s first long ball of the night. He actually hit a solo home run in the second inning in his first at-bat of the game to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.

Bellinger, the 2017 NL Rookie of the Year, looks to be the leading candidate for this year’s National League MVP honors. He’s already been named the league’s starting right fielder for next week’s All-Star Game in Cleveland, Ohio.

The second home run he hit on Wednesday night is one that he’ll certainly never forget.

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