Report: Dodgers, Bellinger avoid arbitration with 1-year, $17M deal

The Los Angeles Dodgers and outfielder Cody Bellinger agreed on a one-year, $17-million deal prior to the lockout taking effect to avoid arbitration, sources told Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.

The 26-year-old former MVP was projected to earn $16.1 million in his third season of arbitration eligibility, according to MLB Trade Rumors. He made $16.1 million last year as well.

Bellinger is coming off a down year, during which he was hampered by multiple injuries and was recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. The two-time All-Star hit .165/.240/.302 with 10 homers and three stolen bases over 95 games last year, eventually being relegated to platoon duties against right-handed pitchers.

The former Gold Glove winner and Silver Slugger will be entering his sixth major-league season next year, boasting a career .857 OPS (126 OPS+). He memorably won NL MVP in 2019, hitting .305/.406/.629 with 47 home runs and 15 steals while playing in all 162 contests and leading the Senior Circuit with 351 total bases.

Bellinger isn't eligible to become a free agent until after the 2023 campaign. He qualified for Super Two status after 2018, earning him an additional year of arbitration.