LOS ANGELES — For most of the last two seasons, as their star center fielder and former most valuable player slipped into a puzzling cycle of injuries, inconsistency and head-scratching production, the Dodgers have remained steadfast.
They still believe in Cody Bellinger's ability. They're still hopeful the 27-year-old slugger can rediscover some semblance of the All-Star-caliber, Silver-Slugger-winning, superstar-affirming form of his old self.
"I know he's working with our guys," Andrew Friedman, president of baseball operations, said last week at Major League Baseball's general manager meetings in Las Vegas, "and doing everything he can to put himself in position to be a real force for us next year."
