Free-agent hitter Cody Bellinger remains out on the market, and the New York Yankees would like a reunion for the foreseeable future. However, Bellinger’s potential to continue his career in the Bronx will all depend on the price.
Bellinger batted .272 with 160 hits, 29 homers, 98 RBIs, and 89 runs scored in 152 games in 2025, per StatMuse.
As a result, it’s no surprise that the veteran wants to cash in on a lucrative contract, showing that he can produce in a tough market like New York, as well as at his previous stop with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
On Jan. 9, MLB insider Ken Rosenthal appeared on “Foul Territory” and shared the latest on Bellinger, as the Yankees issued a warning to the player over his contract demand.
“I’m sure [the Yankees] have some concerns about bidding against themselves, but the Mets have been reported to be on Bellinger as well,” Rosenthal said. “When players of a certain level are out there, and people say they have no market, I’m always skeptical because good players always have teams interested… If [Bellinger] got a $30 million AAV, it would be the fourth highest for an outfielder. That’s pretty good, and five years isn’t bad either.
“I’m sure Bellinger and his agent, Scott Boras, do want greater length, and they have every right to seek it. I just don’t know that they’re going to get it. And it certainly sounds like they’re not going to get it from the Yankees. And then the question becomes, where else would the Mets do that? The Mets have been more inclined to do shorter deals, too.”
Cody Bellinger’s Contract Demands to the Yankees Explained
Moreover, Rosenthal sought to understand why Bellinger and his camp might be holding firm on their stance of seeking a long-term contract in free agency rather than settling for a short-term agreement and potentially having to opt out to test the market again.
“The question is, at what level are they interested in?” Rosenthal added. “Cody Bellinger [at] $30-plus million a year for five years would be a good deal for a guy who has not gotten a long-term deal yet, right? At the same time, he’s probably looking at, like, ‘I’m younger than Alonso, I’m younger than Schwarber, and those guys got five years. Why shouldn’t I get longer?’ That would be his perspective on it.”
Mets Get Update on Their Pursuit of Cody Bellinger
On Jan. 5, The Athletic’s Will Sammon appeared on SNY’s “Baseball Night in New York” to give an update on the New York Mets‘ interest in Bellinger, who will be looking to add another former Yankee after the recent arrivals of Juan Soto and Devin Williams.
“They’ll check in on it, and if this market is not what he wants it to be, they could swoop in,“ Sammon said. “To your point, Sal, they could be that team that uses those resources of Steve Cohen to their advantage and say, ‘Hey, here’s a shorter offer, but the AAV, the annual average value, the dollars, it’s going to be pretty high. ‘ That does entice guys sometimes.”
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