Report: Dodgers, Cody Bellinger avoid arbitration with one-year, $16.1 million deal
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Cody Bellinger have reportedly avoided arbitration.
According to MLB Network's Jon Heyman, Bellinger and the Dodgers settled on a one-year, $16.1 million deal. The settlement comes after Bellinger set the first-year arbitration record with an $11.5 million deal last offseason.
Matt Swartz of MLB Trade Rumors projected Bellinger would receive between $11.5 and $15.9 million in arbitration. With his value being above what experts projected, the Dodgers are showing their devotion to the outfielder and keeping the 2020 championship squad intact.
Bellinger has two more years of arbitration eligibility before his potential free agency following the 2023 season.
The 25-year-old's raise comes on the heels of a 2020 campaign in which he slashed .239/.333/.455 with 12 home runs and 30 RBI en route to a World Series title. He was even better the year prior, slashing .305/.406/.629 with 47 home runs and 115 RBI, earning his first MVP award.
More must-reads: