On Jan. 21, ESPN reported, citing sources, that the New York Yankees reached a five-year, $162.5 million deal with Cody Bellinger, securing the outfielder’s long-term return to the Bronx.
The agreement features opt-outs after the second and third seasons, a $20 million signing bonus, and a full no-trade clause. With the contract in place, the Yankees can count on Bellinger as a key part of their starting lineup.
During an appearance on MLB Network Radio, the Yankees’ general manager made it clear why it was crucial to their offseason to re-sign Bellinger and keep him part of the core that looks to get back to a World Series.
“He covers us in so many different ways,” Brian Cashman said in a video that MLB Network Radio posted on Feb. 1. “He’s a Swiss army knife on the defensive side with above‑average defense in left [field], center [field], [and] first [base]. Again, it gives our manager, Aaron Boone, a lot of flexibility as the unforeseen starts to occur when the season starts to go. We have coverage in a lot of spots that way. Offensively, he can bat in the middle of the lineup, and he’s a lefty.
“Obviously, we have a lot of strikeouts in a lineup, so he’s a contact‑oriented hitter with pop that is not only good against right‑handers, but also left‑handers as well. He’s not a situation where you get neutralized. He just checks a lot of boxes, as you just said. Handling New York is obviously vitally important, too, because not everybody can do.”
Cody Bellinger Gives Reason for Staying With Yankees
On Jan. 28, Bellinger spoke with the media and explained his return to the Yankees after testing the free-agent market this offseason and being linked to other teams in the process.
“I felt right at home last year,” Bellinger said (h/t SNY). “The guys do a great job of building a good culture in that locker room. It’s a very good culture. It’s a winning culture. We all show up to win the game that day. I was just excited to be a part of it.
“For me, I understand the talent that I have on the field. I understand the many different things that I can do on a baseball field, and I enjoy doing that type of stuff. I think I can win a baseball game in a lot of many different ways. That’s what I strive to do. I feel like I do a good job of that. I expect to do a good job of that in the future.”
New York Gets Praise for Re-signing Cody Bellinger
After speculation linking Bellinger to the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays, it’s the Yankees that keep their player, who hit .272 with 160 hits, 29 homers, 98 RBIs, and 89 runs scored in 152 games last season, per StatMuse.
With Bellinger back in the fold, SNY analyst and former MLB general manager Jim Duquette shared his thoughts on the Yankees holding onto their player.
“The Yankees’ pursuit of Cody Bellinger ends up with him signing back with them on a five-year deal,” Duquette said in a video published by SNY on Jan. 21. “Brian Cashman gets their guy. The Yankees and Cashman talked about him as their priority from Day 1, all the way back to the general manager’s meetings, even when he decided to become a free agent. Bellinger was the guy.
“If you look at what he did for New York, his .909 OPS at Yankee Stadium in particular, what he did in terms of protecting Aaron Judge in that lineup, his versatility and athleticism to play multiple positions, not just left field, but center field, right field, first base, a left-handed bat in that lineup. He gives them balance in the lineup as well.”
Yankees’ Brian Cashman Makes Strong Cody Bellinger Admission