Cubs open to trade for Cody Bellinger; Should the Dodgers bring him back?

The Chicago Cubs are reportedly open to trading former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger.

Just weeks after Bellinger picked up his $27.5 million player option for 2025, ESPN’s Jeff Passan has reported that the left-handed batter is now “available” on the trade market.

The move appears to be motivated by the struggles he faced during his 2023 free agency, which he likely wanted to avoid repeating. If the Cubs were to entertain trading him, they would no doubt attract plenty of interest from other teams.

Although the Chicago Cubs expressed interest in re-signing Cody Bellinger last season, it was almost with some hesitation. He then had a down year in 2024, with his OPS dropping 130 points from 2023.

There really isn’t much room for Bellinger in Chicago these days. With his performances continuing to disappoint and the emergence of younger players, he is the perfect bait for a team looking to add a veteran outfielder to their lineup.

Bellinger now finds himself blocked at his top two positions, with Pete Crow-Armstrong taking over in center field and Michael Busch at first base. The Cubs could look to diversify their offense, and trading Bellinger could be a way to accomplish that while freeing up payroll to reinvest in another hitter.

Does all this mean the Dodgers should explore a trade for their former outfielder? Not necessarily.

Bellinger hit 18 home runs in 2024, down from 26 the year before. While his numbers aren’t quite on par with his early years with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he won the NL MVP in 2019, he remains a valuable left-handed bat for the Cubs. He has also become a consistent threat against left-handed pitching, averaging .298 against them in 2024 after hitting .337 in 2023.

Bellinger’s status with the Cubs will be something to monitor all winter. The Dodgers seem unlikely to bring him back as they would likely spend the money elsewhere.

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Photo credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

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