We know that the Chicago White Sox made some very interesting moves on Friday night with the 2022 tender deadline. They decided to let Adam Engel, Mark Payton, and Danny Mendick all be non-tendered so we likely won't see them with the White Sox again.
It is a tough situation for any player that receives this news but it might be good for a couple of them. Sometimes, a change of scenery is very good for a player that is trying to get their career back on track.
One of those players is Cody Bellinger. The Los Angeles Dodgers decided to let him be non-tendered as they are set to go in a different direction.
There were plenty of rumors surrounding this potential story in the days leading up as there were pros and cons to keeping him or letting him go. They obviously made the hard decision to let him go after so many great moments with the team over his career.
The Chicago White Sox and Cody Bellinger make a lot of sense for each other.
Bellinger won an MVP and a World Series championship with the Los Angeles Dodgers over the past half-decade or so. Since then, unfortunately, he just hasn't been the same player that was so elite at one point.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have an embarrassment of riches over there. Bellinger is just one of a few players there that had won an MVP at one time or another. Guys like Mookie Betts, Clayton Kershaw, and Freddie Freeman amongst others are all going to try and keep this team as the best in the league.
Bellinger will be signed with ease as the past suggests that he might really be able to help someone. The White Sox should be that team that takes the risk if Bellinger is interested in coming to Chicago to play baseball. They have a compelling case for him to consider them.
The White Sox drastically underperformed in 2022 and so did Bellinger. Together, the two sides might be able to really help themselves.
There are other outfielders in this organization trying to make an impact such as Eloy Jimenez, Luis Robert, and Oscar Colas along with a few others. There are lots of ways that someone like Bellinger can help out.
In addition to being hungry to revive his career, he would also bring a wealth of experience to the clubhouse. Very few players have been able to do what he's done. If the White Sox can make it work and he is interested, it is something to really think about.