Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger was free to sign with any team for a large portion of the 2025-26 offseason, until he inked a five-year, $162.5-million deal with a full no-trade clause and opt-outs after the 2027 and ’28 seasons.
Despite missing about a month in the summer with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, Bellinger gave his team a solid, steady season even without some of the thunder he provided in his debut campaign in the Bronx in 2025.
Bellinger posted a solid 3.5 fWAR in 132 games, but his
home run tally went from 29 to 17 from 2025 to 2026, and his slugging percentage fell from .480 to .429. Still, he was good enough to help the Bombers make the postseason in a frustrating year for the offense.
Grade: B+
2026 Stats: 132 G, 562 PA, 17 HR, 73 R, 73 RBI, 12 SB, .264/.338/.429, 115 wRC+, 3.5 fWAR, 4.6 bWAR
2027 Contract Status: Under contract (five years, $162.5 million from 2026 to 2030)
Bellinger might have struggled to leave his mark in the power department this year, but he offered one of the most well-rounded lines you will see in a season in which the Yankees finished in the middle of the pack with a 101 wRC+, ranked 14th. That is very valuable, even if it might seem boring to some. Still, we know Bellinger is capable of much more, which is why he didn’t quite get an A in our report cards.
The good news for the Yankees is that even if he slipped a bit in comparison to his excellent 2023 and 2025 campaigns (the former in Chicago as a member of the Cubs, the latter in the Bronx), he seems to have settled on a much higher floor than his forgettable 2021-22 stretch in LA. That’s promising for a team that just made a sizable investment on the player.
Acting as the Yankees’ left fielder most of the time, Bellinger scored and drove in 73 runs, doubled 25 times, and even pitched in with 12 steals, besides the 17 round-trippers. He racked up most of his value on the field, though. Bellinger impressed defensively in 2026, which earned him a Gold Glove nomination. If he wins, it would be his second award after the one he obtained in 2019.
The 31-year-old didn’t show any signs of slowing down as a defender and led all MLB left fielders with +21 DRS (Defensive Runs Saved), showcased some impressive range (+6 OAA), and uncorked throws at an average speed of 93.3 mph, ranking in the 94th percentile of the league. It was probably Bellinger’s most impressive campaign with the glove, which is certainly noteworthy.
To sum up, the Yankees had an above-average hitter and an elite fielder in Bellinger, and there are reasons to believe his offense could bounce back next year. While his 21st percentile bat speed left a lot to be desired, he squares up the ball in the most ideal angles, as his 88th percentile LA Sweet-Spot% of 38.2 indicates. He was also significantly above-average in other metrics such as squared-up percentage (91st percentile), expected xwOBA (70th percentile), and expected batting average (82nd percentile), among others.
Bellinger is no longer the star he was in 2017-19. That player is long gone. However, he has found ways to keep contributing and remains a solid player as he heads into his early and mid-thirties.
