MLB Rumors: Cody Bellinger's Future As A Dodger To Be Known By End Of Day

They have until 8pm tonight to tender him a contract, but according to one report, the Los Angeles Dodgers seem to be leaning in one direction regarding the future of former MVP outfielder Cody Bellinger. 

While I'm told the #Dodgers have not made a final decision on Cody Bellinger's future, the chances are better than 50/50 that he will be removed from the roster via trade or non-tender by 8 pm ET today. @MLBNetwork @MLB

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 18, 2022

MLB Insider Jon Morosi says that the chances "are better than 50/50 that [Bellinger] will be removed from the roster via trade or non-tender by 8 pm ET today." 

It’s crazy to say that this could be the final morning Cody Bellinger wakes up a Dodger. No way he gets $18M after having a 64-OPS+ the last 240 games 😭

— Fuzzy (@fuzzyfromyt) November 18, 2022

Bellinger has been a vexing figure for the Dodgers in recent years. In 2019 he looked like the team's face of the future, winning the MVP with a resounding 44 HR, 115 RBIs, 121 runs, a .305 average and a 1.035 OPS. 

But it's been all downhill from there. Bellinger has averaged .239, .165 and .210 in the three seasons since then, and his OPS+ in the last two years has been 64 (which means 36% worse than the average player). He still plays a solid center field, but with an $18M salary coming in arbitration this year, it's now expected that the Dodgers will try to escape that possibility by either a trade or simply non-tendering him by tonight's 8pm deadline. 

Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports