MLB Rumors: Surprising NL Team Added To Bellinger Chase

Despite a .193 average and major league-worst .611 OPS over the past two seasons combined, Cody Bellinger continues to gain interest on the free agent market since the Los Angeles Dodgers cut him loose last week. 

The Toronto Blue Jays and San Francisco Giants have been the most notable pursuers thus far, but now you can add another NL West team to the mix. Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports that the Colorado Rockies are interested in Bellinger. 

Of course, at first glance, one might wonder why Bellinger would go from a 111-win team, always in contention, to a Rockies team with no shot at competing for a pennant in 2023. But this actually does make a lot of sense for him:

Bellinger's agent, Scott Boras, says that his client is only interested in a one-year contract. “I’ve already been offered multi-years,” Boras has said. “Most likely, because of his age, we don’t want a multi-year.” That would obviously be to build his market value back up after two dreadful seasons. And what better place for a hitter to build his stats up than in the thin air of the most hitter-friendly park in the majors—Coors Field? 

Cody Bellinger and the Colorado Rockies make a lot of sense together – Major League Baseball News https://t.co/brWsZjAssG pic.twitter.com/8fQpHLzt4v

— THFC Fan 2022 (@USSportsNew2021) November 23, 2022

The Rockies, for their part, have a gaping hole in center field. Belli may not be the hitter he once was, but he can still go get it in center. And Coors Field has a lot of ground to cover. 

Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports