Cody Bellinger, 28, who was shipped out of the Los Angeles Dodgers and found a new home with the Chicago Cubs, is quickly becoming a winner. Bellinger’s next stop is the Texas Rangers, who are leading the American League West.
“Bellinger could be dealt to Texas, which is in need of a power bat in the outfield/designated hitter position,” MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, predicted on Sunday with the trade deadline just over six weeks away.토토사이트
In the American League West, Texas is 42-26 on the season (.618 winning percentage) as of Sept. 17, with a 3.5-game lead over the second-place Houston Astros. But if they want to go beyond the district and win the World Series, they’ll need to bolster their designated hitter.
As MLB.com notes, “Texas has plenty of good hitters in its lineup, but the organization is desperate for a slugger to fill the designated hitter spot. So far, they’ve tried nine players at the position and none have made the leap to starter. Texas ranks 24th in the league in designated hitter OPS (.712), so if that player can also play the outfield, that’s a plus.” The Rangers currently have Robbie Grossman being unproductive in left field and need to find a way to maximize Ezequiel Duran’s offensive output.”
[Photo] Cody Bellinger ⓒGettyimages (All rights reserved)
Cody Bellinger is the perfect fit to fill the Texas designated hitter spot. According to MLB.com, “The former MVP rebounded with the Cubs, hitting .337 with a .493 on-base percentage, .830 OPS, seven home runs and nine doubles in 37 games. He signed a one-year deal with the Cubs ahead of the 2023 season with a mutual option for 2024, and with the Cubs sitting at 31 games out of first place, a move would be easy. Texas could take advantage of the opportunity.”
Bellinger injured his left knee while playing defense a month ago and is currently not 100 percent. This could be a win-win trade for Texas, which needs a designated hitter, and Bellinger, who can take some of the defensive load off his shoulders for a while and get healthy.
According to MLB.com, “As a designated hitter for Texas, Bellinger can rest his defense while he recovers from his knee injury, and when he’s ready, he can provide quality defense in the Texas outfield. Bellinger, Adolis Garcia, and Leodis Tavares will be a dynamic trio, and Bellinger will be reunited with longtime Dodger Corey Seager.” MLB.com also pointed out the positives of the move to Texas.
[Photo] Cody Bellinger ⓒGettyimages (All rights reserved)
Bellinger burst onto the scene in a Dodgers uniform in 2017, batting .266 with 39 homers and 97 RBIs in 132 games, earning National League All-Star and Rookie of the Year honors. Two years later, he continued his momentum, batting 30-for-57 with 47 homers, 115 RBIs, and a 1.035 OPS in 156 games, winning MVP, All-Star, Gold Glove, and Silver Slugger honors.
But that was the last we’d see of Bellinger as an MVP. He quickly turned into a mediocre hitter, starting with a 2-for-39 slump in 2020 and ending with a three-season, 41-homer, .648 OPS slump last year. To make matters worse, injuries to his left shin, hamstring, and ribs led to frequent rehab stints and eventually a non-tender release from the Dodgers after the 2022 season.
With his resurgence with the Bird’s Nest Cubs, can Bellinger become a championship-caliber hitter for Texas? In six weeks, all eyes will be on the major league trade market.