It was a charmed first season in pinstripes for Cody Bellinger. Acquired from the Cubs last offseason for Cody Poteet in what amounted to a salary dump, the nine-year veteran had much to prove in his walk
year. After taking home Rookie of the Year honors in his first season and MVP in his third, the player who looked like a sure-thing superstar stumbled to an inexplicable degree, hitting .193 between 2021 and 2022 before getting non-tendered by the Dodgers. The Cubs took a flier on the outfielder in 2023 and he returned to form, finishing 10th in MVP voting and winning a Silver Slugger. Following a more pedestrian 2024, the Cubs decided Kyle Tucker was a more dynamic option for the roster spot and payroll amount devoted to Bellinger and they showed him the door.
The player whose career had been marked by inconsistency quickly became the Yankees’ most reliable player. Playing in at least 40 games at each outfield position (as well as seven at first), Bellinger graded out as elite defensively, posting 7 Outs Above Average and 3 runs of Arm Value. He was a mainstay in the middle of the order all year, posting a .830 OPS in the first half and .791 in the second half. The veteran finished with a tantalizing 29 home runs and 98 RBI, a stone’s throw from being the first non-Judge or Soto Yankee to go 30/100 since Giancarlo Stanton in 2018.
While there is no replacing Juan Soto’s bat, Bellinger’s all-around game was crucial to the Yankees finishing tied for the best record in the AL. Although he stumbled in the postseason, slashing .214/.258/.393, the 30-year-0ld’s final season before free agency was a rousing success. For what it’s worth, we gave Bellinger an A- in our Roster Report Cards series, a sign of satisfaction with his 2025 reults.
As expected, Bellinger exercised the opt-out clause in the contract he signed with Chicago, making him a free agent. Still, there’s plenty of momentum towards a reunion. Bellinger, whose father Clay played for the Yankees from 1999-2001, appeared to enjoy his year in the Bronx, saying he had “an unbelievable time putting on this uniform.” The sometimes circumspect Brian Cashman also expressed clear interest in re-signing his playoff left fielder. “Certainly, we’d love to have him with our team moving forward,” he told the press in October. With Trent Grisham also a free agent, outfield is a key position of need once again.
FanGraphs’ Ben Clemens projects Bellinger to secure a five-year, $140 million contract — a hefty sum, to be sure, but by no means the kind of compact that would scare the Yankees off. The greatest barrier to Bellinger re-signing may be the same man who caused his ouster from Chicago: Kyle Tucker. A free agent as well, Tucker is considered the premier option of the two. Nearly two years younger and with a more imposing offensive profile, the four-time All-Star is projected by Clemens to command 10 years and $370 million on the open market.
Tucker is limited to the corners, which could give Bellinger the edge as an experienced option in center. However, while he graded out as elite in both left and right, the 30-year-old was below average in center by Defensive Runs Saved this season, a trend that’s been borne out over multiple years. It’s difficult to project defensive improvement in center as a player advances into his 30s (the same red flag looms for Grisham, another potential free agent target). How viable the Yankees view Bellinger’s glove in center — as well as how much money they’re willing to commit to their outfield via free agency — could be the deciding factor in whether they make a strong push for Tucker or focus their efforts on retaining Bellinger.
