Yankees Still Clear Favorites For Cody Bellinger, Per Ins...

By Shaun McAvoy

Contributing Sports Writer

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A reunion with All-Star outfielder Cody Bellinger is one of the New York Yankees' biggest priorities this offseason.

After a few down years to end his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Bellinger enjoyed a resurgence in his career with the Chicago Cubs before being traded to the Yankees last offseason. In his one season in New York, the former NL MVP was the team's second-best player behind Aaron Judge, mashing 29 home runs and driving in 98 runs.

Bellinger is set to hit free agency again after opting out of the last season on his three-year, $80 million contract that he signed with the Cubs, but that doesn't mean a reunion is out of the question with the Yankees.

MLB.com's Mark Feinsand sees the Yankees as the clear favorites to land the 30-year-old star this offseason, with the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Cubs and Dodgers as other potential suitors.

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"The Yankees and (Cody) Bellinger were a perfect match, and a reunion here makes sense for both parties," Feinsand wrote Wednesday. "Yankee Stadium is built perfectly for his swing, evidenced by Bellinger’s .912 career OPS in the Bronx, and his positional versatility gives manager Aaron Boone lineup options. New York is the clear favorite to sign Bellinger.

"There are several reasons for the Yankees to bring Bellinger back, but none more compelling than his home/road splits in 2025. In 80 games at Yankee Stadium, Bellinger slashed .302/.365/.544 (.909 OPS) with 18 home runs and 55 RBIs. In 72 road games, those numbers dipped to .241/.301/.414 (.715 OPS) with 11 home runs and 43 RBIs. For any other club besides the Yankees, Bellinger’s numbers in the Bronx must be taken into consideration."

The Yankees traded for Bellinger to fill the void left by Juan Soto's departure, and the 30-year-old slugger did not disappoint. Bellinger took full advantage of the opportunity to play half the season in Yankee Stadium, putting out one of the most productive seasons of his career since 2019.

If the Yankees are willing to give Bellinger the long-term contract he's seeking, why would he walk away from one of the most hitter-friendly places in the league?

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