Cody Bellinger reunion up in the air for Dodgers with latest Yankees update

Cody Bellinger is coming off his best season since his legendary 2019 MVP campaign, slashing .272/.334/.480 (125 wRC+) while producing 4.9 fWAR as Aaron Judge's right-hand man in the middle of the New York Yankees' lineup.

Naturally, that's led to a situation in which the Yankees have aggressively tried to retain Bellinger in free agency, making him multiple long-term offers in a short stretch of time.

And yet, the latest reports suggest that the Yankees and Bellinger remain far apart in contract talks, with his camp seeking a multi-year deal that at least averages the $27.5 million salary he made in 2025.

With the Yankees currently balking at his asking price, is there a chance for the Los Angeles Dodgers to swoop in and reunite with their one-time face of the franchise?

Dodgers-Cody Bellinger reunion will come down to money, not performance

The Dodgers' outfield remains in flux during a relatively inactive offseason. Andy Pages has probably earned the full-time starting center field job after supplying 4.1 fWAR, a 113 wRC+, and 10 Outs Above Average to the cause last year, but Tommy Edman struggled in 2025 and recently underwent ankle surgery. Plus, Teoscar Hernandez is still technically on the trade block after his difficult campaign.

A reunion with Bellinger would make a lot of sense, especially after he just played at least 40 games at each outfield position with the Yankees and accrued 12 Defensive Runs Saved while doing so. He's also long been a quality glove at first base, so he could fill in for Freddie Freeman any time the 36-year-old needs a breather.

The money is obviously the biggest question mark, as even the free-spending Dodgers have been relatively quiet this offseason after signing closer Edwin Díaz to a three-year deal. There are definitely lockout concerns holding teams back in free agency, as well as the usual Scott Boras factor that tends to hold things up until the deepest parts of winter. Is Bellinger the player who will convince L.A. to re-open their wallets?

There may still be some sore feelings on both sides after the way his initial tenure in Los Angeles ended, but it's clear that the 30-year-old is mostly back to his old form after posting 11.4 fWAR over the three seasons since he left. As long as the Yankees continue trying to play hardball, the chance of a Dodgers reunion shouldn't be ruled out entirely.