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The Cody Bellinger-Yankees fit is hard to argue.
The New York Yankees appear focused on running back their 2025 roster, which manager Aaron Boone called “the most talented” he’s ever had.
So when asked about the prospect of recruiting outside free agents, or retaining the ones like Cody Bellinger who are available, Boone is doing what he can to convince Bellinger to come back to New York.
Bellinger finished the 2025 season with his second-best single-season bWAR (5.1) of his career — only his 2019 MVP campaign (8.7) was better. He slashed .272/.334/.480 with 29 homers, 25 doubles and 98 RBIs while scoring 89 runs.
Aside from retaining Bellinger, the Yankees have already re-upped free agents Trent Grisham, Ryan Yarbrough and Tim Hill. New York, of course, went 94-68 and finished tied with the Toronto Blue Jays for the most wins of any American League team.
Aaron Boone: ‘Who Wouldn’t Want’ Cody Bellinger?
The Yankees have been linked to just about every free agent, including prize free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker.
Still, Boone reminded the world that Bellinger is no consolation prize, even though the 30-year-old is perceived as an inferior player to Tucker.
“Who wouldn’t want a player like that?” Boone said at the MLB Winter Meetings on Monday.
The Yankees are reportedly turning their focus to signing Bellinger instead of Tucker — who could command a 10-year deal worth more than $400 million, according to insiders. Boone publicly stated he has not been involved in recruiting any outside free agents but also said he does not typically involve himself in discussing free agents who have previously played for the Yankees.
“They know who we are,” Boone said. “They know what we’re about.”
The Yankees Could Definitely Do Worse Than Cody Bellinger
The three-headed outfield monster of Bellinger, Grisham and AL MVP Aaron Judge combined for 116 home runs — only one fewer than the Pittsburgh Pirates hit as a team in 2025.
So even though he has been less consistent than Tucker — Tucker is routinely a 4-5-win player based on bWAR and has stolen 25-plus bases three times, and Bellinger’s top mark is 20 steals — the Bellinger-Yankees fit is hard to push back against.
Bellinger’s sweet swing worked wonders at the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium. He played great defense in both left and center field, could play first base in a pinch and was a natural left-handed power-hitting bat that protected Judge in New York’s lineup, which was a huge reason why the massive right fielder won his third AL MVP award.
Plus, there is the relatively unknown aspect of Tucker switching positions and playing left field, which is the hardest position to play at Yankee Stadium. He’s played just 68 games in his major-league career in left field and none since 2020, when he was a member of the Houston Astros.
So even though it’d be natural for the Yankees to drill in on Tucker, taking their eye off Bellinger to do so is a bad idea. They could end up with neither, and the fallback option of prospect/project Jasson Dominguez, who is having an awful winter-league season — he’s slashing just .184/.304/.263 in the Dominican League — cannot be comfortable for Boone, GM Brian Cashman or Yankees fans.
Pat Pickens is an experienced sports writer and media personality who has written for outlets like NHL.com, the Associated Press, the New York Times and USA Today. He covers the NFL, NBA, NHL and NBA as a breaking news contributor at Heavy. More about Pat Pickens
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