This Was INEVITABLE…
This was inevitable in a huge New York Yankees off seasonason and free agency period where the team is trying to get back to the World Series and continue adding talents. We now have a huge update regarding one of the Yankees best players in Cody Bellinger that has Yankee fans concerned, but also we have good reason to believe that nothing but good things are coming for the Yankees and Bellinger as well. And we are going to go over all that. We’re going to waste no time jumping right into things, but real quick guys, if you’re part of that 69% that’s not subscribed to Yankees Digest, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss a single New York Yankees update. We got videos coming out every single day, multiple times a day that you don’t want to miss out on. Every single update on the Yankees, we will have a video on all free agency and offseason long and obviously in season once the season’s back. I already miss baseball so much, guys. But let’s jump right into the video. There is a lot to talk about because guys, as we know, Cody Bellinger was going to be one of the top known free agents in the sport this year. I mean, look, Bellinger, the Yankees acquired him for basically nothing. Trading Cody Potit for Cody Bellinger in what was a clear cap dump for the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs would DFA Potit in basically no time at all. Meaning the Yankees were basically just handed Cody Bellinger on a one-year deal. Now, Bellinger, he now hits free agency with his one real chance to make a whole lot of money after an excellent season with the Yankees after stringing together a couple bounceback years after he started to really, really, really struggle with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The former MVP is or was the Yankees best player last season or second best player last season outside of Aaron Judge. And truly, it’s just so important that the Yankees bring him back. the defensive versatility, the great bat, the fact that he’s a perfect guy to bat right in front of Aaron Judge, gaining some Aaron Judge protection while also being an excellent base runner and a guy who gets on base so much. We know how important Cody Bellinger is to this team and there’s multiple updates regarding him, including that the New York Mets have a ton of interest in Cody Bellinger. This should not surprise anyone. We have not been, this is not some shocker where we didn’t know that the Mets were going to have interest in Ballinger. We’ve heard this for months and months now that the Mets were going to try to go for Bellinger in the offseason trying once again to steal the Yankees second best player in outfielder and also just really trying to figure out what exactly the Yankees next steps are when considering the Yankees need Ballinger. I mean without Cody Bellinger they basically have to sign Kyle Tucker or things would really really really not look good. Now, obviously, if the Yankees replace Bellinger with Tucker in a lot of ways, that’s better, but in some ways, it’s worse. Like, defensive versatility because I mean, Tucker’s a true right fielder. Cody Bellinger can play anywhere and Aaron Judge is also a true right fielder. So, Tucker would likely move to left field. Aaron Judge would be in right. And the Yankees would then use Jason Dominguez or Spencer Jones in that center field part unless they decide to bring back Trent Gisham, which I just don’t see Trent Gisham returning to the Yankees whatsoever. But on top of this, there is some noise surrounding the Yankees in Bellinger. As John Heymon said, the Mets, also we hear not unexpected, will be looking at Cody Bellinger, a guy who fits them perfectly. Right now, they have an opening in center field and an opening at first base as we know. We’ll see if they bring back Pete Alonzo, who is the all-time home run champion for the Mets. Certainly, Cody Bellinger can play center field. He can play the corner spots. Very versatile guy and an outstanding offensive and defensive player. He had a 5.1 war. Showdy could play in New York. It will be interesting to see if the Mets can land another big outfielder from the Yankees. Now, I don’t expect this to happen. Personally, I do think the Yankees are going to be retaining Cody Bellinger. Last season, Bellinger was absolutely excellent. Had a 5.1 war, had a 272 batting average, had an 813 OPS and an OPS plus of 125. Cody Bellinger did absolutely everything that we hoped he would do with the team. Stole 13 bases as well. He’s a great base runner. Gets on base a whole lot. again the perfect guy to put in front of Aaron Judge. So this is something that Yankee fans should all be across the board. The Yankees should totally resign Cody Bellinger. Now Bellinger is one of the top free agents according to market value as we see here. Now when we look at everyone and their market value, Kyle Tucker unsurprisingly is at the top getting an average annual value around 40 million or that’s what’s expected followed by Frober Valdez and then Cody Bellinger right behind him. Cody Bellinger is expected to get around $30 million per year in average annual value, probably over a 6 to sevenyear contract. And with that, we do have to consider that Bellinger being 30 years old, it’s going to be a contract that’s going to matter more in the now. But the Yankees are trying to win right now. So, it makes sense to go for Cody Bellinger and do whatever it takes to retain him for right now. Outside of that, it’s you kind of really go down the list and you don’t see any other real outfielders outside of Bellinger and Tucker. There’s no other bigname outfielders and there’s not going to be a free agent outfielder next year that’s some huge name as well. I mean the only other guy you see on this list who’s listed as an outfielder is Kyle Schwarber who’s listed as a left fielder, but we all know that Schwarber is a DH and nothing more. I mean obviously he’s a phenomenal DH had 56 home runs last year but like he is a DH. So we look at this, we understand that Cody Bellinger is the guy who the Yankees really really are prioritizing here. And it’s not just me saying that. This is what Brian Kman said as well. As we can see here, Cashman said, “We’re very interested in bringing him back. We’d be better served if we could retain him, but if not, then we’ll have to look at alternatives, ways to fill and see where that takes us, but it’s pretty early in the process.” But I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Of course, we would like to have Cody Bellinger back. And why wouldn’t the Yankees? He’s been so great with them over this year. And Scott Boris said that Cody Bellinger is only a five tool free agent outfielder, which is true. I mean, Cody Bellinger doesn’t have a real true strong weakness in his game. The way that I mean, Kyle Tucker, not the world’s greatest base runner, not the world’s greatest fielder, phenomenal arm, but not the world’s greatest fielder, per se, where Cody Bellinger is an excellent, excellent fielder. I mean, fielding might be the best part of Cody Bellinger’s game. Like, he’s truly an elite fielder who again hit 29 home runs. He’s perfect for Yankee Stadium in every sense of the word and would likely be the Yankees center fielder next season. imagining that they would stick Jason Dominguez in left field going forwards if they bring Bellinger back. Obviously Spencer Jones is likely to be called up as well. So that’ll have an impact on things. Bellinger did struggle in the playoffs though. He only had an OPS of 651. Batted with a 214 with six hits. Had a home run, but overall not a great showing for Cody Bellinger in the playoffs. Though that shouldn’t deter the Yankees. We know Bellinger can perform in the playoffs. The man did win the NLCS MVP before. So it’s not like he cannot succeed in playoff baseball. We’ve seen him have absolutely excellent playoff outings in the past as well. Now, also Trent Gisham is someone here who we have to consider with all this because the Yankees did extend Trent Gisham that qualifying offer. Now, I don’t expect Gisham to take the qualifying offer. I do think he’ll hit free agency. The man had 34 home runs last season, has an excellent arm out in the outfield, is better suited to be a right fielder or a left fielder now at this point because he is slowing down a little in terms of just speed. But at the end of the day, he’s a phenomenal arm, very good fielder. There’s a reason why he has two gold gloves to have had an 811 OPS, an OPS plus of 125 and gave the Yankees a lot of excellent moments this season. Had a 3.5 war and he’ll likely get like a three or fouryear contract being 29 years old. Teams will try to capitalize on his prime and hope that that bat stays hot the way that it did this year. Obviously not a great contact hitter. Ended with a 235 batting average. He started the year really, really, really hot and then cooled down consistently. But the home run stayed. He continued being an excellent home run hitter throughout the year and teams are definitely going to look at Gisham as someone who you have him as your everyday outfielder for sure and he’s going to be worth a good amount of money. He’ll be worth $20 million to a team, maybe even more over a long-term contract. Now, is it going to work out? That’s the question. Can he keep the contact up because the power’s been there. We know the power has been there. We know the good fielding’s been there. It’s just been the contact. So, teams are going to look at Trent Gisham as a guy who they’ll try to take from the Yankees and the Yankees probably won’t put up much of a fight about. However, at the end of the day, he is someone to be very aware of going forwards for the Yankees and for everyone else. Cuz if they do lose Cody Bellinger, the chances that they try to bring back Gisham obviously go through the roof. Do you think the Yankees are going to retain Bellinger? I think it’s going to come down to between the Yankees and the Mets. And I ultimately do think the Yankees are going to bring Cody Bellinger back on a longer term deal, which does make sense. Obviously, by the end of the deal, he won’t be the best player, but he is someone who fits well with the Yankees, has proven he could play in New York. The short porch in left field is perfect for Cody Bellinger, who could easily amass 30 home runs next season, getting his rhythm down, especially if the Yankees do what makes the most sense, which is get a righty leadoff hitter, like a true leadoff hitter. Put Aaron Judge back at third where he likes to hit out of and then have Cody Bellinger as your two-hole hitter. I mean, Cody Bellinger is the again the perfect two-hole hitter in front of Aaron Judge. can run the bases, gets on base a whole lot, can hit the ball with power, but you also got to pitch to him because then if you don’t, you’re going to put him on second base in scoring position if you walk Aaron Judge as well. And then all of a sudden, Bellinger’s going to he’s going to get home if the ball gets into the outfield. So, he’s the perfect guy for this. I do want to see the Yankees retain Cody Bellinger. It feels like that’s at the top of their list free agent wise and just in the offseason. It absolutely should be. I do think he’ll come back. What do you guys think? Let me know in the comments down below. Like this video, subscribe, turn on post notifications. Have a great day. Go Yankees.
Chris Gallagher breaks down the New York Yankees in danger of losing Cody Bellinger to the New York Mets after the long rumored interest that the Mets have, but Yankee fans should be cautiously optimistic.
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6 comments
Bring bellinger back.
Question is how much is enough.
0:45 same
We need to keep Cody
Get it done!
THIS IS NOT NEWS
Get the deal done already and pick up a couple more contact hitters .