Among the Braves needs this offseason, outfield is near the top of the list. Left field was a black hole for the club in 2024, an area that can certainly improve, but right field is also a concern. Ronald Acuña Jr. won’t be ready for the start of the season. He could miss several months, and even when he does return, there’s no guarantee he will be able to play the outfield after a second ACL surgery. The Braves must have a backup plan in place, and a fresh new face is on the block, 2019 NL MVP Cody Bellinger.
https://twitter.com/BRWalkoff/status/1859636480785674686
Bellinger recently opted into his contract for 2025, which is scheduled to pay him $27.5 million. He also has a player option for 2026, which will pay him $25 million if he opts in.
The Braves aren’t an organization that typically enjoys dealing with player options, but exceptions have been made in the past. There’s also a distinct possibility that the Cubs will have to eat a decent chunk of salary if they do end up trading Cody Bellinger.
That’s why a trade like this could potentially intrigue the Braves. Bellinger is far from the MVP he once was with the Dodgers, but he’s still much better than what the Braves currently have in left field. In 2024, he recorded a .752 OPS and 111 OPS+ (11% above league average), hitting .266 with 18 home runs. But the year prior, he had his best season since his 2019 MVP campaign, hitting .307 with 26 homers and an .881 OPS, which led to 4.4 WAR and a top 10 finish in the NL MVP race.
There’s no question Cody Bellinger comes with significant risk for the club acquiring him. He’s been the poster child of inconsistency over the last half-decade. But still just 29-years-old, the potential reward is also substantial. Alex Anthopoulos has shown he’s willing to roll the dice from time to time. If the Cubs are open to eating some of the contract, the Braves are likely to show interest.
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Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire
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