Houston Astros Interested in Trading for Former Dodgers MVP Cody Bellinger
The Houston Astros have reportedly shown interest in trading for former Los Angeles Dodgers MVP Cody Bellinger. The 48-44 Astros have a need at first base, and could be interested in bringing in Bellinger from the Chicago Cubs, per The Athletic’s Jim Bowden.
What is unclear is if the Astros will still be interested in Bellinger after he was placed on the injured list Thursday with a fractured finger. Bellinger was hit by a pitch on Wednesday while facing the Baltimore Orioles. He will be shut down through the MLB All-Star break, but could be back by late July, per Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune.
Bellinger has the potential to be a great addition for any team interested. He is a two-time former MLB All-Star and was the Comeback Player of the Year last year. This season, Bellinger is slashing .269/.331/.410 with nine home runs and 37 RBIs through 79 games.
Prior to spending the last two seasons with the Cubs, Bellinger had spent his entire career with the Dodgers. He was the Dodgers’ fourth-round pick in the 2013 MLB Draft, and played six major league seasons in Los Angeles. He struggled during his final two injury-plagued seasons with the Dodgers, including a .165 batting average in 2021. He became a free agent and signed with the Cubs at the end of 2022.
The Astros are reportedly also interested in several other first basemen, including the New York Mets’ Pete Alonso, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Christian Walker, and the Chicago White Sox’s Andrew Vaughn.
