THE OPENING: A DOOR BOLTED SHUT SWINGS WIDE
LOS ANGELES, CA—The most intriguing “seismic addition” to the Dodgers’ 2026 roster may be a face they know all too well. As of December 19, 2025, reports from Heavy.com and The Athletic suggest that the path for Cody Bellinger to return to Los Angeles has cleared significantly.
What looked like a “bolted shut” door during his initial departure in 2022 has cracked open due to a “convergence of timing and leverage.” With the Yankees and Mets currently locked in a financial standoff with agent Scott Boras over a massive $400 million asking price, the Dodgers have quietly emerged as the “calculated” backup plan that could change the shape of their lineup overnight.
THE “47-HOME RUN” LEGACY
The “47-home run slugger” refers to Bellinger’s legendary 2019 NL MVP campaign in Los Angeles, where he launched 47 bombs and became the face of the franchise. While he hasn’t hit that specific number since, his 2025 season with the Yankees (.272 AVG, 29 HR, 98 RBI) proved that the “pure masher” of old has been replaced by a more disciplined, high-IQ hitter.
- The Boost: The Dodgers’ pursuit received a boost this week when it was revealed that Bellinger’s “second choice” after the Yankees is a return to Southern California.
- The Strategic Fit: With the Dodgers potentially missing out on Kyle Tucker (who is being heavily pursued by Toronto), the front office views a Bellinger reunion as the perfect “Plan B” to upgrade right field.
- The “Boras Factor”: As other teams balk at the 8-year contract demands, the Dodgers’ willingness to offer high AAV (Average Annual Value) on shorter terms—similar to their Teoscar Hernández deal—could bridge the gap.
BY THE NUMBERS: THE BELLINGER EVOLUTION
| The 2019 MVP | The 2025 Veteran | The 2026 Projection |
| 47 Home Runs | 29 Home Runs | Projected for 35+ at Dodger Stadium. |
| 25.8% K-Rate | 13.7% K-Rate | Now in the 91st percentile for plate discipline. |
| Outfield Only | OF / 1B / INF | Offers the “versatility” Andrew Friedman craves. |
| World Series Champ | Leader in the Bronx | Seen as the missing lefty link for a 3-peat. |
THE SEISMIC SHIFT: WHY NOW?
The Dodgers aren’t just acting on nostalgia. The market for power hitters has become “top-heavy,” and with Pete Alonso already signing with the Orioles and Kyle Schwarber staying in Philly, the options for elite left-handed power are dwindling.
“Andrew Friedman is playing a game of chicken with Scott Boras,” one NL executive noted. “He knows the Yankees are hesitating. He knows the Mets are looking elsewhere. If the Dodgers strike now, they get a Gold Glove defender and a former MVP who is practically begging to come home.”
THE VERDICT: A CALCULATED HOMECOMING
If the Dodgers pivot from Tucker to Bellinger in the coming days, it won’t be “offseason noise”—it will be a precision move designed to solidify the most dangerous 1-through-6 in baseball history. The “seismic addition” of a healthy, disciplined Bellinger hitting behind Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts would make the Dodgers’ pursuit of a 2026 “3-peat” look more like a probability than a dream.
