In one of the most tantalizing free agency markets MLB has ever seen, teams are making unprecedented moves to clinch players in a way that can be called nothing short of genius. Will the San Francisco Giants follow a similar path and go after one of the top free-agent outfielders, Cody Bellinger?

The slugger recently chose free agency after spending a year at the Chicago Cubs dugout. With his availability already garnering traction from various clubs, will the Giants’ affinity for having a well-balanced outfield lineup play into it? Especially after their superstar signing of Lee Jung-Hoo?

Is Cody Bellinger the next missing puzzle piece of the Giants’ dugout?

As revealed by MLB insider Jon Morosi a few days ago, Cody Bellinger would have made a perfect backup option for the Giants clubhouse in case they failed to clinch Shohei Ohtani. Unfortunately for 29 teams in the league, the Japanese star went where predicted – his former team’s cross-town rivals.

Surprisingly enough, the Giants chose to focus beyond the borders to look for backup. They found a perfect one in South Korea in KBO’s ex-MVP Lee Jung-Hoo. It still doesn’t throw them off the Cody Bellinger trajectory, as the team has always been known to stay heavy in the corner outfield.

San Fran has long been searching for a dynamic player to consistently lock down the defensive side—someone who will be a force on their own. Bellinger’s present form of hitting 26 homers and 97 RBIs proves nothing short of a perfect fit. However, his current predicted deal value will certainly be one of the many factors the Giants have to consider before making a move.

Why the Giants might not pursue Cody Love for the next season

Cody Bellinger has been predicted to receive an offer of around $181 million by MLB insider Jim Bowden. Also because they already splurged a good $113 million on signing an MLB rookie, the team is being calculative about what next.

The Giants’ recent Korean OF acquisition led the Korean Baseball Organization in the five biggest offensive categories back in 2022, which clinched him an MVP title. Lee Jung-Hoo also has a history of a strong center-field defense, although he primarily works in right and left fields.

Read More: San Francisco Giants Sign South Korean Baseball Sensation in Surprise Move

Given that the former Kiwoom Heroes slugger signed a 6-year deal with an opt-out clause available from the fourth season onward, it seems unlikely that the team will go after someone older with an injurious past and a heavy price tag like Bellinger. Only time will decide the rest!

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