Dodgers-Cody Bellinger Buzz Won’t Go Away, But Is That Scott Boras?
The baseball world is currently fixated on a familiar name as the 2025-26 offseason hits its stride: Cody Bellinger. For fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the rumors of a homecoming for the former MVP have become a persistent hum, refusing to fade even as other marquee free agents dominate the headlines. However, as the calendar flips toward 2026, a skeptical question is emerging from the front offices in New York and Los Angeles: Is the “buzz” a genuine pursuit by Andrew Friedman, or is it a classic masterclass in leverage by super-agent Scott Boras?
The narrative of a Bellinger-Dodgers reunion is compelling. Bellinger was the face of the franchise, a Home Run Derby star, a World Series champion, and the 2019 NL MVP in Dodger Blue.1 But the exit was messy, and the road back is paved with complex contract demands and strategic posturing.
The State of the Market: Waiting for the Big Fish
As of late December 2025, the outfielder market is currently in a state of suspended animation. The primary reason is Kyle Tucker, the top-ranked free agent this winter, who is seeking a contract reportedly in the $400 million neighborhood.
Scott Boras, who represents both Bellinger and other top-tier talent like Alex Bregman, appears to be using a “wait-and-see” approach. The strategy is straightforward: wait for Tucker to set the market ceiling, then position Bellinger as the high-value, five-tool alternative for teams that miss out on the Tucker sweepstakes.
| Key Free Agent | Agent | Status/Target |
| Kyle Tucker | Various | $350M–$400M range; Dodgers, Blue Jays, Yankees interested. |
| Cody Bellinger | Scott Boras | $160M–$200M target; Dodgers, Yankees, Mets, Giants linked. |
| Austin Hays | Various | Short-term target for Mets/Yankees as a fall-back option. |
Why the Dodgers? A Fit or a Ploy?
On paper, the Dodgers have a legitimate, albeit non-dire, need. While they boast Teoscar Hernandez and Andy Pages in the outfield, the depth behind them is thin. Bellinger’s ability to play elite defense in center field, right field, and even first base offers the positional flexibility that manager Dave Roberts craves.2
However, many MLB insiders, including Jon Heyman, have noted that the Dodgers’ interest may not be as aggressive as that of the New York Yankees or New York Mets.
“It feels like a pure Scott Boras negotiating tactic,” notes one report from Dodgers Way. “Boras is floating the idea of a Dodgers reunion as a way to scare the Yankees and Mets into blinking first.”
The logic is simple: If the Yankees believe the Dodgers are ready to bring “Belli” back to the West Coast, they may be more inclined to meet Boras’s reported demand for a six-to-seven-year deal worth approximately $160–$190 million.3
The “Yankee Factor” and the 2025 Surge
Cody Bellinger is coming off a highly productive 2025 campaign with the Yankees, where he hit 29 home runs—his highest total since his MVP season in 2019.4 His stint in the Bronx proved that his “comeback” with the Cubs in 2023 wasn’t a fluke.
2025 Statistical Profile (with Yankees):
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Slash Line: .272 / .334 / .4805
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Home Runs: 29
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Fielding Run Value: +9 (91st percentile)
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Strikeout Rate: 13.7% (a career-best)6
Because Bellinger’s swing is tailor-made for the “short porch” in right field at Yankee Stadium, New York remains his most logical destination.7 He opted out of his deal with the Cubs (who had traded him to New York for Cody Poteet) specifically to land the long-term security that has eluded him since his injury-marred years in Los Angeles.
Past Tensions: The Boras-Friedman Friction
A significant hurdle to any Dodgers reunion is the history between the two parties. After Bellinger’s shoulder surgery in 2021, his performance plummeted, leading to a .193 average over two seasons. Boras publicly blamed the Dodgers’ training and coaching staff for Bellinger’s struggles, prompting a rare public defense from Dodgers President Andrew Friedman.8
The Dodgers eventually non-tendered Bellinger in 2022, effectively “divorcing” their homegrown star rather than paying his projected arbitration salary.9 While time heals all wounds, the Dodgers’ front office is famously data-driven and risk-averse regarding long-term commitments to players with “unimpressive batted ball metrics.” In 2025, despite his 29 homers, Bellinger’s hard-hit rate and exit velocity remained in the bottom 40th percentile of the league.
The Verdict: Boras is Holding the Keys
As the calendar flips to 2026, the Dodgers-Bellinger buzz is likely a byproduct of the “Boras Box.” By keeping the Dodgers “linked” to Bellinger, Boras ensures that the bidding remains a multi-team race.
If the Mets pivot to a trade for Luis Robert Jr. or sign a right-handed bat like Austin Hays, Bellinger loses a massive piece of leverage. Keeping the Dodgers in the conversation—even if they are just “lurking in the background”—is the only way to keep the Yankees’ offer from softening.
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