Cody Bellinger’s free agency intel will make Dodgers fans even angrier about Kyle Tucker

Last offseason, there were whispers that the Los Angeles Dodgers could make a reunion play for Cody Bellinger. He was in a stalemate with the New York Yankees, and the Dodgers had a clear need in the outfield. That idea was forgotten after the Dodgers signed Kyle Tucker, but fresh off playing in New York, that decision has become a topic of conversation.

While speaking with the California Post's Dylan Hernandez, Bellinger confirmed there was a possibility of returning to the Dodgers. No, Bellinger didn't exactly say the two sides were close to a deal, but part of the interest was his desire to play in the World Series once again.

Despite a two-year run with the Chicago Cubs, and spending last season with the Yankees, Bellinger has yet to return to the World Series since he departed Los Angeles.

Considering Bellinger hit 29 home runs with an OPS of .813 last season with the Yankees, and how Tucker looked during his final two months with the Cubs, there was tongue-in-cheek talk that the former may have been the better free agent to pursue.

Cody Bellinger's free agency twist made Kyle Tucker debate impossible to ignore

With two months remaining in the 2026 season, it's not exactly a tongue-in-cheek comparison. There's been some regression but Bellinger is still carrying an OPS of .763 on the season with a wRC+ of 116.

Meanwhile, Tucker's .702 OPS with the Dodgers this season would be the lowest mark of his career, ditto for his wRC+ of 98. The excitement that surrounded Tucker's arrival with the Dodgers has turned into dread, considering there's no scenario where he opts out of his four-year, $240 million. Not to mention, the near $60 million signing bonus the Dodgers gifted Tucker at the start of the contract.

Meanwhile, Bellinger's contract with the Yankees had far less pomp and circumstance. Bellinger inked a five-year deal to return to New York. The deal has an overall value of $162.5 million, and Bellinger has an opt-out after both the 2027 and 2028 seasons. In case you're doing the math at home, Bellinger's AAV is roughly $12.5 million less than Tucker's.

Sure, this is partially revisionist history, and none of this would be a thing if Tucker had been performing in line with his career averages, but some of the numbers last season pointed to Bellinger being the smarter play. Instead, the Dodgers upended the system, and are now stuck with a true albatross of a contract.

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