LOS ANGELES — Cody Bellinger was released by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night, allowing the former Nationals Most Valuable Player of 2019 to test the freelance market.
Rather than offer him salary arbitration, the Dodgers decided not to offer Bellinger a contract for the 2023 season.
The 27-year-old outfielder netted $17 million in 2022, when he hit .210 with 19 homers and 150 strikeouts in 144 games.
Bellinger likely would have received a slight pay raise in officiating, but the National West Division champions chose to let him go.
Although he has been hailed for his defensive prowess, Bellinger has suffered an impressive setback on offense over the past three seasons.
In 2021, he was limited to 95 games in the season, during which he made three appearances on the disabled list, and he posted a .165 batting average.
Things improved in the playoffs. He batted .353 in 12 games and hit the hit that gave the Dodgers the lead in the National Divisional Series final game against the San Francisco Giants.
In 2020, Bellinger batted .239 with 12 long balls in 56 games in the season cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He hit three homers in the National Championship Series and the Dodgers reached the World Series. They defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in six games to claim their first Major League Baseball title since 1988.
Bellinger has battled injuries since the 2019 season, including right shoulder surgery in November 2020.
Prior to his significant regression, Bellinger was named Nationals Rookie of the Year in 2017 and was named the Championship Series Most Valuable Player in 2018. He was an All-Star selection twice and won the Golden Glove in 2019.
