The concerning stat that sticks out for potential SF Giants outfield target

Cody Bellinger is a very difficult player to evaluate. He is coming off a strong year with the New York Yankees, and will look to land a sizable payday in free agency. While the SF Giants have a need for another outfielder, Bellinger's home and road splits in 2025 might be enough to make them look elsewhere.

The concerning stat that sticks out for potential SF Giants outfield target

Mike Petriello of MLB.Com highlighted some of the factors that make evaluating Bellinger so difficult, most notably the volatile range in production not that long ago. Teams have to wonder whether they are getting an MVP-caliber outfielder or one that is struggles to be an everyday player.

From 2021 - 2022, the left-handed bat struggled to a .611 OPS across 900 plate appearances with the Los Angeles Dodgers. As Petriello notes, he dealt with hamstring and leg ailments before being non-tendered.

Since then, Bellinger has rebounded nicely, putting up a .281/.338/.477 line over the past three seasons. This includes a less-impressive year in 2024 sandwiched between two strong seasons.

In 2025, Bellinger hit .272/.334/.480 (125 wRC+) with 29 home runs, 98 RBI, and 89 runs in 656 plate appearances. He posted an 8.7 percent walk rate, 13.7 percent strikeout rate, and .207 ISO.

As soon as the Chicago Cubs traded him to the Yankees last winter, it felt like a perfect landing spot for the 2019 NL MVP. He was going to an extremely favorable park for left-handed hitters. Jung Hoo Lee hit eight home runs in 2025, and three of them came in a weekend series at Yankee Stadium. Take that and extrapolate it over 81 home games.

That is the benefit Bellinger had in playing for the Yankees in 2025. Not surprisingly, the home and road splits were extreme. Bellinger posted a .909 OPS at home, and a .715 OPS on the road.

Those extreme splits might be enough to scare a team or two away. Plus, Bellinger is not the type of hitter who flashes incredible raw power. Rather, his power comes from a swing that lifts and pulls the ball down the line. This is the type of swing that could work at Oracle Park.

Bellinger would check off a lot of boxes for the Giants. He brings a good mix of power and contact to the table, and he remains a quality defender in the outfield. Bellinger has already received a qualifying offer in the past, so he was not eligible for it this offseason. That could be a subtle nod in his favor as well.

Price point will be the biggest factor with Bellinger. He does not quite have the same reliable track record as Kyle Tucker, where teams would accept a lucrative, long-term deal to add a player of that caliber.

On the other hand, Bellinger's agent, Scott Boras, will be looking to leverage his strong season into a massive payday. There is likely going to be a sizable gap between what Boras wants for Bellinger, and what teams are willing to pay.

The extreme range in production in recent seasons will make some teams hesitant, if not avoidant altogether. Bellinger is coming off a strong year in 2025. He could boost a Giants lineup, but a look beneath the surface points to a different conclusion.