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The New York Yankees are coming off a season in which they fell short of the World Series after reaching it the year before against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This time, they were eliminated by the AL champion Toronto Blue Jays. As soon as the season ended, it was widely assumed that Cody Bellinger would opt out of his contract.
“As expected, New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger plans to opt out of his contract and become a free agent next month, a source told ESPN. Bellinger, 30, has a $25 million player option for next season. After a rebound season in his first year in pinstripes, he presumably will receive widespread interest in free agency -- it should yield a lucrative multi-year contract,” ESPN’s Jorge Castillo wrote.
There’s no doubt Bellinger is in line for a strong payday this winter.
“Predicted Contract: 5 years, $140 million. A $28 million AAV would give Bellinger a slight raise over the $26.6 million figure of his last contract, and while he might push for a sixth year, a five-year deal and an option for 2031 might be where his market ultimately lands,” Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter wrote.
The Yankees were long viewed as a likely landing spot for him, making a reunion seem logical. However, after GM Brian Cashman’s latest comments, it appears Bellinger may no longer be in their plans.
“It gives us a little bit more comfort going in. Now we have Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones competing [for left field] and we have Grisham, and we have Judge,” Cashman said regarding Trent Grisham accepting his qualifying offer.
Although Bellinger is one of the most versatile defensive players in the league, he’s also been viewed as a potential first baseman. Even so, that scenario doesn’t seem particularly likely for New York.
At this point, it certainly feels as if the Yankees have decided they won’t be pursuing Bellinger—at least for now. It’s a surprising development as the offseason continues to unfold.
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