The New York Yankees are heading into the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings with some notable holes to fill and pressure to return to the World Series next season after taking a significant step back.
After reaching the Fall Classic in 2024, then losing Juan Soto, the Yankees signed several veteran stars to try and improve last winter. And now one of those signings, former Most Valuable Player Award winner Cody Bellinger, has returned to free agency after enjoying a major bounceback season in the Bronx.
“Bellinger seemed to blend into the Yankees’ clubhouse almost immediately,” Bryan Hoch wrote for MLB.com. “(Yankees GM) Brian Cashman has already labeled him one of the two best outfielders on the market, which signals the organization sees real value in keeping him. If ownership decides to invest, the Yankees already know Bellinger’s skill set enhances the lineup, the defense and the style of play.”
However, even though the fit between the organization and player seems clear, it won’t be easy for the Yankees to negotiate a return for Bellinger. As one of the most accomplished players on the market, facing perhaps his last chance to earn a significant long-term contract in free agency, Bellinger will command a high price. And that has reportedly caused a snag in the team’s talks with his camp.
“My understanding and my belief is that the Yankees, while they want him badly — and that’s the guy, that’s their number one guy, I don’t think there’s any question that Bellinger is their number one guy — there is a gap right now in the talks,” New York Post MLB insider Jon Heyman reported. “So that is not anything that appears to be close.”
By opting out, Bellinger left $25 million on the table and Spotrac projects he is worth more than $182 million in a six-year deal moving forward. The Yankees are already on the hook for several long-term contracts and principal owner Hal Steinbrenner has stressed his hopes that the team can lower its payroll.
As a result, the Yankees might only be willing to go so far in their contract talks with Bellinger, and that could open the door to another big market team that might be willing to outspend them.
“He has come back now and that is the Yankees’ number one choice,” Heyman added. “That said, it doesn’t feel right now they are very close in the discussions, so that gives hope to the other teams. The (New York) Mets, the (Los Angeles) Dodgers, potentially the (Philadelphia) Phillies. Probably a big market team for Bellinger.”