Heading into the MLB offseason, the New York Yankees made re-signing star outfielder Cody Bellinger a top priority.
Bellinger was acquired from the Chicago Cubs last offseason and put together a strong 2025 campaign. Unfortunately, the process of re-signing Bellinger has not gone smoothly this offseason for the Yankees.
At this point in time, Bellinger remains a free agent. There are some who believe that he will still end up back in New York, but others are expecting another team to swoop in and sign him.
With that being said, a new update from ESPN MLB insider Buster Olney casts doubt on the Yankees being able to bring him back.
As shared by Foul Territory on X, the Yankees are “operating under the assumption that Cody Bellinger will sign elsewhere.”
Needless to say, that is disappointing news for the New York fan base. The situation could still change, but things aren’t looking good right now.
New York Yankees Have Plenty of Competition for Cody Bellinger
There are a handful of teams who would like to sign Bellinger this offseason, including the Yankees.
Among the other potential suitors are the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, and San Francisco Giants. The Chicago Cubs were interested at one point in time, but they are likely out on Bellinger after signing star free agent third baseman Alex Bregman.
It’s possible that a team like the Toronto Blue Jays could jump into the mix late if they are unable to sign superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker. A team like the Boston Red Sox could also consider taking a swing on Bellinger if other options fall through.
While hope should not be given up just yet, the market is there for Bellinger to go elsewhere. If New York truly wants to bring him back, the front office will need to get much more aggressive with its offer.
Where are the Yankees hitting issues with Bellinger? Brendan Kuty of The Athletic shared an update on the contract discussion snag back on January 8.
“The New York Yankees’ latest multi-year contract offer to free-agent outfielder Cody Bellinger featured an average annual value of more than $30 million a year as Bellinger’s camp continued to push for seven years, multiple sources briefed on the ongoing talks told The Athletic on Thursday,” Kuty wrote.
What Would the Yankees Be Losing If Bellinger Walks?
During the 2025 MLB season with the Yankees, Bellinger played in 152 games. He hit 29 home runs, drove in 98 RBI, and slashed .272/.334/.480. Losing that production would be a tough blow.
New York has shown interest in other potential options outside of Bellinger as well.
Tucker has been mentioned at times in connection with the Yankees. Bo Bichette has also come up as a potential option.
More recently, Pat Ragazzo has reported that New York has shown interest in potentially acquiring second baseman Nico Hoerner from the Cubs. He could be made available with Bregman now in Chicago.
Expect to hear more rumors about the Yankees in the coming days. New York will need to make another move or two assuming Bellinger leaves if it wants to be a serious World Series contender.
Yankees’ Chances of Re-Signing Cody Bellinger Revealed