Dodgers News: Cody Bellinger's Future With Team Not In Discussions According To GM

In this story:
Although appearing in 144 games this season for the Dodgers, the most he's appeared in since his NL MVP year in 2019, outfielder Cody Bellinger has not had a memorable season. Bellinger improved upon his numbers from the 2021 season but still finished with just a .210 batting average and 19 home runs.
To put the numbers into perspective, in Bellinger's MVP season, he finished with 47 home runs with a .305 batting average in 156 games. In his last three seasons combined Bellinger has totaled 41 home runs.
Bellinger has seemingly become a shell of his former self and was someone they could hope to rely on during the postseason. Bellinger was benched for the final two games of the series and was even subbed out for pinch hitter Austin Barnes in game two with runners on first and second base in the eighth inning.
All three games the Dodgers would inevitably lose and of course the blame can't all be put on Bellinger. With the postseason now over, the Dodgers need some decisions made for there future roster but General Manager Brandon Gomes has not had any discussions yet (via Mike DiGiovanna).
"That's not something we’ve discussed much internally. He’s had some good offensive stretches. Belly’s elite defense has continued to be there, and we still think there’s upside."
#Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes on future of CF Cody Bellinger, who has one more year of arbitration: "That's not something we’ve discussed much internally. He’s had some good offensive stretches. Belly’s elite defense has continued to be there, and we still think there’s upside."
— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) October 18, 2022
What Bellinger hasn't been able to do at the plate has been made up for with his defense in center field, but will that be enough to keep him on the roster. The former MVP looks like he won't get back to those numbers again anytime soon, but being just 27 years old allows for more patience in what is already a stacked lineup.
The Dodgers team will likely look much different than it was during the 2022 season with the team still soul searching for some answers.

Ryan Menzie | Lead Contributor Ryan is an LA Native who has grown up praising the greatest athletes LA has had to offer. A love for sports ranging between basketball, football, volleyball and golf, a future Sports Management Masters graduate, and being engulfed into organized sports since seven years old, the passion and love for sports never ends for Ryan. If the words he writes don't paint the full picture of his true fandom, he will find more ways than one to tell the story and be more than willing to open up a nice LA sports debate with you. Favorite Player: Mookie Betts Favorite Moment: 2020 World Series. The Lakers won the NBA title and the Dodgers secured the World Series only a couple of months later. During such a rough time with COVID-19 and such a bleak look at how sports has tried to overcome the circumstances, it was a relief to see the night sky lit up for many nights and a makeshift parade in LA when it seemed like we needed it the most.
Follow @MenzieRyan