BOSTON – Aaron Judge is, of course, the clear-cut MVP of the 2025 Yankees.
The rightfielder, after all, is a heavy favorite to win his third American League MVP, and second in a row, as he continues burnishing his Hall of Fame credentials.
But take Judge out of the picture when it comes to the Yankees’ MVP this season?
It may well be Cody Bellinger.
The 30-year-old, acquired last offseason from the Cubs in exchange for righthander Cody Poteet in what already has gone down as one of Brian Cashman’s best deals in his long tenure as general manager, came into Sunday night’s game against the Red Sox hitting .278 with 28 homers, 25 doubles, 93 RBIs and an .834 OPS.
Those numbers include slashing .370/.408/.623 (51-for-138) against lefty pitching and slashing .354/.408/.598 (45-for-127) with runners in scoring position.
He had the most impressive at-bat of the day in Saturday’s 5-3 victory over the Red Sox in the ninth, falling behind power lefty Aroldis Chapman 0-and-2 before battling for seven more pitches. He won the nine-pitch at-bat by lasering a 97-mph fastball off the Green Monster in left for an RBI double that gave David Bednar a two-run cushion for the bottom of the ninth.
“That was sick,” Jazz Chisholm Jr. said of Bellinger’s at-bat against Chapman, the former Yankee who has been among the best relievers in the sport this season.
Lefthander Max Fried, who picked up the win Saturday, faced Bellinger plenty during both players’ time in the National League (Fried for the previous eight season in Atlanta, Bellinger for six seasons with the Dodgers before the last two with the Cubs).
“He can shorten up and go the other way or he can take you deep pull side,” Fried said. “He’s two different type of hitters, and you’ve just got to make pitches and hope he gets himself out.”
And all of that doesn’t come close as a synopsis of Bellinger’s value to the club.
In addition to his potent lefty bat, which has provided protection for Judge, Bellinger has started games at all three outfield positions and at first base, playing all four spots at an above-average level, and more often than not better than that.
“He is underrated. I don’t think he gets enough credit for what he does for this team,” Judge said. “He can play every outfield position, he can play first base when we need him to. Gold Glove in all four spots. Having him in the middle of the lineup…he’s going to come up with some big moments for us down the stretch that’s for sure.”
Or, as Cashman said here Friday afternoon of Bellinger: “He’s a hell of a player. On both sides of the ball.”
Cashman has long been a fan of Bellinger, the son of former Yankee Clay Bellinger, and there the son has made no secret about his desire to follow in his father’s footsteps in that regard.
“He’s someone that wants to be here,” Cashman said back in December, shortly after executing the trade with the Cubs. “I’ve been hearing it for a long time, including his agent Scott Boras saying, ‘Can you get him over here? He’s driving me crazy. He wants to be a Yankee.’ That’s not why I did it; ultimately, I did it because it’s a fit.”
How much longer it will be a fit is a question for the offseason. Bellinger has a $25 million player option that surely will not be exercised as Boras’ clients almost always hit the open market when they can.
It is not too strong of a description to say Bellinger has loved his time in pinstripes, nor is it too strong to say the Yankees have loved having Bellinger. A reunion for 2026 and beyond is of mutual interest to both parties, though there’s no guarantees it will happen as the dollars and years the Yankees are willing to commit will have to match up.
All of that, though, is for the winter.
For now, it is about Bellinger’s continued contributions down the stretch and into October.
“He’s been a positive addition, he really has,” Cashman said. “I’m glad we were able to run into him this offseason when we did. He’s really helped lengthen our lineup and improve our defense in a big way.”
Erik Boland started in Newsday’s sports department in 2002. He covered high school and college sports, then shifted to the Jets beat. He has covered the Yankees since 2009.