The Dodgers continue their search for outfield help this offseason, and a reunion with former MVP Cody Bellinger has emerged as a real possibility. Multiple reports confirm mutual interest as Los Angeles evaluates both internal options and external upgrades.
The Dodgers enter the offseason facing a clear priority: stabilizing their outfield. After short-term bets on players like Michael Conforto, the Dodgers now find themselves searching for more reliable options ahead of 2026.
The organization certainly has in-house candidates, including trade-deadline addition Alex Call, recent 40-man roster selection Ryan Ward, and versatile defender Tommy Edman, who is working his way back from right ankle surgery. Still, the front office has actively explored outside additions via both free agency and trade.
One familiar name has consistently surfaced: former Dodger and 2019 NL MVP Cody Bellinger.
Initial reporting from ESPN’s Jeff Passan indicated that the Dodgers had discussed Bellinger while evaluating the corner-outfield market. Subsequent coverage from The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya and the Los Angeles Times’ Jack Harris further reinforced that mutual interest exists. In a more recent update, Ardaya and new Dodgers beat writer Katie Woo noted that Bellinger himself is open to returning to the franchise that drafted and developed him.
Bellinger, now 30, is coming off a strong campaign with the Yankees, posting a .272/.334/.480 slash line, belting 29 home runs, and contributing quality defense both in the outfield and at first base. After a turbulent stretch to end his previous Dodgers tenure, his resurgence with the Chicago Cubs and New York has positioned him as one of the more intriguing bats on the market.
A reunion certainly has appeal, but the key question is whether the Dodgers would commit to the type of long-term contract Bellinger is expected to command. With multiple teams poised to enter a subsequent bidding war for his services, the Dodgers certainly will have to weigh his upside against the inconsistency he showed in the years before his departure to Chicago and New York.
For now, both sides appear open to the conversation, leaving the possibility of a Bellinger return very much alive as the offseason unfolds.
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