The New York Yankees have been trying to re-sign star outfielder Cody Bellinger all offseason long. Unfortunately, the two sides have been unable to work out an agreement to this point in time.
Reports have come out that the Yankees are offering Bellinger a lucrative deal worth around $160 million over five years. New York has also reportedly included two opt-out clauses in that contract offer, which would allow him flexibility to negotiate a new deal or leave for another team.
With that being said, the Yankees cannot afford to keep waiting on Bellinger.
New York will have to make a decision in the near future. Does the team move on from Bellinger and work on other moves? Or, can the Yankees get something done to bring him back?
According to a report from The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty on January 18, New York has started looking into trade options and is comfortable moving on from Bellinger if a deal can’t be reached.
“As the Yankees wait for Bellinger, they have turned their attention to the trade market, so they’re ready to move on from him if they find a deal to their liking, or are prepared to pivot should he sign elsewhere,” Kuty wrote.
The surprising part of this news is that the Yankees are already working on the trade market. They are seemingly close to moving on from the dream of retaining Bellinger.
New York Yankees Connected to Another Big-Time Star
Kuty also included an intriguing option for New York in his report. He once again linked the team to Milwaukee Brewers star starting pitcher Freddy Peralta.
“They have maintained heavy interest in Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Freddy Peralta, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal,” Kuty wrote. “But the Yankees would do well to upgrade their rotation, even if they retain Bellinger.”
Peralta would be exactly what the Yankees’ rotation needs. He is coming off of an impressive season in 2025 with the Brewers.
In the 33 starts he made for Milwaukee, the 29-year-old starter compiled a 17-6 record to go along with a 2.70 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 3.1 K/BB ratio, and 176.2 innings pitched.
While it would cost a lot to acquire Peralta from the Brewers, he’s exactly the kind of piece that could drastically increase New York’s chances of winning the American League.
Losing Bellinger Would Still Be a Tough Blow for the Yankees
After pulling off the trade to acquire Bellinger from the Chicago Cubs last offseason, the Yankees were quickly rewarded for their big swing.
Bellinger played in 152 games during the 2025 campaign. He hit 29 home runs to go along with 98 RBI. In addition, he produced a slash line of .272/.334/.480.
Those numbers would be a tough loss for New York. It would be very difficult to replace his production with any player left on the market. However, improving the rotation would help the Yankees not need as much offense.
Expect to hear the rumors continue to swirl around in New York. Bellinger has to make a decision at some point in the near future. The Yankees are still involved, but their interest could be short-lived if other opportunities present themselves.
Yankees Fans Hit With Surprising Trade News Amid Cody Bellinger Talks