Cody Bellinger is regarded as one of the top position players available in free agency. Apparently he is seeking a deal that signifies that.
The New York Post’s Jon Heyman published a story last week saying that the Toronto Blue Jays would be turning their attention to Bellinger after losing out in the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes. The real interesting piece that has received attention recently is a nugget Heyman snuck in.
According to Heyman, Bellinger is seeking a deal for $200 million or more. Yowzers.
While Bellinger has shown that he can be a standout player, whether a team is willing to sign him for $200 million is another story. And whether that’s a good investment is a related question.
The Bellinger who slugged 39 home runs with a .933 OPS and won NL Rookie of the Year in 2017 is worth that kind of money. The Bellinger who clubbed 47 home runs with a 1.035 OPS and won 2019 NL MVP is worth that kind of money.
But Bellinger also batted .165 in 2021 and .210 in 2022. Those weaker seasons, plus one other factor, has some teams showing concern.
The Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants are among the teams that are expected to have interest in the 28-year-old, who can play both outfield and first base.
H/T MLBTR
