With superstar slugger now off the board after with the Dodgers, the market has seemingly begun to come into focus for center fielder , the clear #2 position player on the free agent market this offseason. According to , Bellinger and agent Scott Boras are seeking $200MM plus in contract talks this winter. That Bellinger is in position to even approach that figure is nothing short of incredible given the brutal fashion his time in LA came to an end. The outfielder dealt with Darren O'day Jersey shoulder, rib, and leg injuries throughout the 2021 season and struggled badly when he managed to take the field that season, posting an abysmal .165/.240/.302 slash line acro s 350 trips to the plate that season. While he was able to avoid the injured list in 2022, the diminished results lingered as he slashed just .210/.265/.389, prompting the Dodgers to non-tender him last offseason. Not long after being non-tendered, Bellinger took a one-year deal with the Cubs and entered the 2023 campaign hoping to rebuild his value ahead of another trip to the open market after the season. He certainly succeeded in that effort, slashing .307/.356/.525 while earning a top ten finish in NL MVP voting and the second Silver Slugger award of his career. While this came with potential red flags regarding his quality of contact in 2023, MLBTR nonethele s projected him for a twelve-year, $264MM deal in our annual , the second-highest projected guarantee after Ohtani. Since then, many of Bellingers potential suitors on the free agent market have gone in other directions. The Yankees landed a trio of left-handed hitting outfielders in , , and on the trade market, seemingly leaving no room for Bellinger on their roster. Meanwhile, the Giants recently landed outfielder on a six-year, $113MM contract. While its certainly feasible that San Francisco could have the resources available to land Bellinger as well, between the clubs existing outfield logjam and need for pitching, it seems more likely that the club would pursue top arms like , , and than double up on talent in center field with a Bellinger signing. Thats not to say that Bellingers market is completely devoid of suitors, of course. The Blue Jays havent been shy about their pursuit of a top-of-the-market lefty slugger this offseason, and Bellinger is the clear best player available to fill that niche with both Ohtani and Soto now off the board. Given that, its no surprise that Heyman suggests that Toronto is expected to be a player for Bellinger this offseason. takes things a step further, suggesting that the Blue Jays could be a favorite for the 28-year-olds services this winter. Looking beyond Toronto, both Heyman and Nightengale also indicate that the incumbent Cubs could be a factor in Bellingers market this offseason while the Padres as a potential suitor. Any interest from Chicago or San Diego seemingly comes with caveats, however. The Padres are facing severe financial constrains and hope to duck under the luxury tax in 2024, and committing $200MM or more to Bellinger would eat away most of the savings the club procured by dealing Soto and Grisham to the Bronx earlier this month. Meanwhile, reports from indicate that the Cubs could prefer to wait out the market and see if Bellinger falls to them on a more palatable deal than the outfielders current price tag. The Blue Jays, meanwhile, have no such apparent financial restraints or reservations. Of course, its po sible that another team in need of outfield help such as the Mariners could jump into the fray and change the outlook of Bellingers market as the offseason continues. Tyler Thornburg Jersey
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