Where should Cody Bellinger go...

A former MVP is hitting the MLB free-agent market at age 27. That would usually spark a bidding war in the Sotheby’s realm — hundreds of millions of dollars, only the highest of high rollers, etc. — but Cody Bellinger no longer looks like the player who claimed the NL honor in 2019. After two shockingly subpar seasons from Bellinger, the Los Angeles Dodgers non-tendered him, declining to pay a 2023 salary projected to land around $18 million through the arbitration process.

Still, there is a clamoring for Bellinger's services, even if it’s more garage sale than art auction. The New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported that 11 teams have expressed interest in Bellinger, and agent Scott Boras told the Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal that Bellinger has declined multiyear offers in pursuit of a one-year deal.

What does Bellinger need to fix to regain his MVP form?

This is the rare team decision that will likely depend more on the squishy, intangible idea of fit than dollars or contract stipulations. Given Bellinger’s specific (but difficult) goal of executing a baseball time machine trick and the narrow range of likely deals — his 2023 guarantee is almost certain to fall between Kyle Schwarber’s $10 million 2021 deal and the $18 million arbitration projection — teams will mostly be pitching him on how they can help him help them.

Which teams have the best chance of fixing Bellinger?

The team that signs Bellinger will likely be seeking to understand just how his injuries might've thrown off the chain reaction of physical movements in his swing. Whether or not they can figure that out, they should be focused on finding an approach at the plate that suits the current version of Bellinger.

The way to Bellinger’s heart — or at least his signature on a contract — should be a comprehensive plan to diagnose and correct his problems at the plate. Imagine the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes, but with the self-improvement bent of "Queer Eye."

Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto’s recent trade that sent Teoscar Hernandez to the Seattle Mariners opens up the possibility that the Jays have designs on finding a new outfielder and perhaps moving George Springer to a corner. Their hitting coaches have emphasized swing decisions and helped trade acquisition Matt Chapman regain his footing after injury issues in 2022.

San Francisco Giants

The Dodgers’ rivals have a lot of roster room and money to play with, and they've been very successful revamping hitters under top executive Farhan Zaidi and manager Gabe Kapler. If any team would have a detailed plan for Bellinger, it seems like the Giants might be it.

Houston Astros

They don’t officially have a general manager right now, but the World Series champs have long been leaders in the area of player development. Their center-field situation is unsettled despite Chas McCormick’s strong postseason, and Bellinger could fit nicely into a platoon situation in which he plays most days in center and occasionally spells Jose Abreu at first base against lefties.

Chicago Cubs

I won’t pretend the Cubs have many recent hitter development success stories in the Bellinger realm, but they do have openings in center field and at first base. They are reportedly positioning their young team to take a step forward, so Bellinger could be a nice one-year bet for Chicago.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Or, you know, Bellinger could go back to the team that knows him best. Despite the prolonged disappointment and the non-tender, it’s true that he showed improvement in 2022 and that the Dodgers have more information about his trajectory than any other squad. And true to form, their roster could be twisted about 100 different ways to fit, so don’t rule out a return to L.A.