A year after the Yankees acquired Cody Bellinger for the simple price of $25 million and Cody Poteet, it is going to cost a whole lot more to retain him this offseason.
But after seeing first-hand how valuable he was to their club across the course of a full season, trying to re-sign Bellinger figures to be among the Yankees’ top priorities heading into the winter.
“Certainly we’d love to have him with our team moving forward, but we haven’t had any of those discussions,” general manager Brian Cashman said Thursday during his post-mortem press conference at Yankee Stadium. “I haven’t had any conversations with [Bellinger’s agent] Scott Boras. But bouquets his way, without a doubt. He helped us on both sides of the ball, offense, defense, he was a versatile player, he was great in our clubhouse. But all that’s yet to come.”
Just over a week removed from getting knocked out of the playoffs by the Blue Jays in the ALDS, the Yankees have not yet held their annual pro scouting meetings, which set the stage for their offseason plan of attack.
Cody Bellinger makes a sliding catch during Game 4 of the NLDS on Oct. 8, 2025. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
But within five days of the end of the World Series, Bellinger’s decision to opt out will become official – forgoing the final year and $25 million left on his contract to head back to the open market, where the 30-year-old is expected to cash in following a strong season in pinstripes.
Even after a slow start, he hit .272 with a .813 OPS, 29 home runs, 25 doubles and 13 steals. He provided strong defense in all three outfield spots as well as first base, while accruing 5.0 bWAR – his highest mark since 2019, when he was the National League MVP with the Dodgers.
Kyle Tucker will also be a free agent this offseason. Getty Images
“He was an impact player for us,” Cashman said. “I’m glad we got him. … One of the many reasons why we were in a position to believe that we were capable of great things this year when the dust settled. So I thank him for everything he’s done.”
By all accounts, Bellinger enjoyed his time in The Bronx, where his dad Clay won a pair of World Series championships in 1999 and 2000.
He has made it clear he wants to play for a winner, though with this being Bellinger’s best chance for a big payday – exceeding the three-year, $80 million contract he got from the Cubs in Feb. of 2024 – money will also be a factor.
The Yankees have the contracts of Aaron Hicks and Marcus Stroman coming off the books in 2026, and currently sit with a projected luxury tax payroll of roughly $253 million, according to Cot’s Contracts, giving them some room to work with under the highest tax threshold ($304 million) that they typically end up around.
Outfielder Kyle Tucker, also a Boras client, is the top free-agent position player on the free-agent market. He is two years younger than Bellinger and has a higher offensive upside, which will make him all the more expensive to sign – and potentially the first one to sign so he can set the market.
But Bellinger’s ability to play multiple positions (at a high level defensively) would offer the Yankees more flexibility in how they construct their roster, likely making him a better fit – especially since the organization now knows he can play in New York.
Jasson Domignuez celebrates during a July 9, 2025 game against the Mariners. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Part of the equation also has to do with what the Yankees have from within to play alongside Aaron Judge in the outfield.
Jasson Domínguez is expected to get another crack at left field on a full-time basis (after losing playing time late this season to Bellinger and Trent Grisham, who is also set to become a free agent), while top prospect Spencer Jones has begun to knock on the door from Triple-A, though how soon he gets a chance to break through in The Bronx depends on what the Yankees do this winter.
“I think [Jones] has put himself in the conversation at least,” Cashman said. “He’ll certainly come to spring training and he’s earned without a doubt the look, the competition. But it all depends on how many opportunities exist based on the decisions that come our way this winter. But he’s put himself in position to be considered a potential everyday major leaguer in 2026. But we’ll see.”