The Chicago Cubs have signed 2019 National League MVP Cody Bellinger to a one-year, $17.5 million deal, according to multiple reports.
Bellinger spent the first six years of his MLB career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, playing in three World Series, winning all of them in 2020. Also in 2017, he won NL Rookie of the Year and helped the Dodgers win their first pennant in his 29th year that season. Year.
Bellinger has struggled immensely over the past three seasons, but it’s one of the most impressive relegations from former MVPs in recent memory. Bellinger has a .203 batting average and a .648 on base plus slugging percentage since 2020. 210 in his 144 games in his 2022 with 19 homers and 68 RBIs.
The Dodgers did not bid on Bellinger after their loss to the San Diego Padres in the 2022 National League Division Series.
He has a $17 million contract for 2022, likely slightly increased in arbitration.
Bellinger was limited to 95 games during the 2021 regular season, was on injured reserve three times and batted .165. 353 batting average in his 12 games in the subsequent postseason, and scored an RBI in Game 5 of his NL Division series against rival San Francisco Giants. Bellinger also hit his three-run home run in Game 3 of his NL Championship series against the Atlanta Braves.
Think you can name all these MLB free agents?
Ben Verlander and Alex Curry play “Name That Free Agent”.
In 2020, Bellinger batted . 239 with 12 home runs in 56 games during the pandemic-shortened season. He hit a home run three times in the NLCS as the Dodgers defeated the Braves to reach the World Series. They defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in six games to win the franchise’s first title since 1988.
Bellinger has battled injuries since his MVP season, including surgery on his right shoulder in November 2020.
Bellinger was also named NLCS MVP in 2018. He made his two All-Star teams and won a Gold Glove Award in 2019.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Top stories from FOX Sports:
Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to stay informed about games, news and more