If the New York Yankees are going to re-sign outfielder Cody Bellinger this offseason, they reportedly may have to wait for another significant domino to fall first.
According to Brendan Kuty of The Athletic, a league source said it is “likely” agent Scott Boras could wait for outfielder Kyle Tucker to sign somewhere before attempting to finalize a deal for Bellinger.
Tucker is widely regarded as the top free agent available, but Bellinger may be right behind him as far as position players go, and seeing what Tucker gets could help set the market for Bellinger.
Last offseason, the Yankees acquired Bellinger in a trade with the Chicago Cubs in what amounted to a salary dump.
The 30-year-old veteran proved to be a great addition, as he slashed .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs, 98 RBI, 89 runs scored and 13 stolen bases.
That rivaled his best offensive season since winning National League MVP with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019 when he hit .305 with 47 homers and 115 RBI.
Bellinger also saw extended action at all three outfield positions for the Yankees, and his steady defense combined with his contributions at the plate gave him a 5.1 WAR, which was the second-best mark of his career.
It came as little surprise that Bellinger was an ideal fit in the Bronx, as his powerful lefty swing benefited from the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium.
He hit .302 with 18 homers at home last season compared to .241 with 11 homers in road games, so vacating the friendly confines of Yankee Stadium may not be the best thing for Bellinger’s offensive output.
Of course, money and term figure to play a big role in where the two-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger Award winner and one-time World Series champion lands.
Bellinger’s departure would leave a massive hole in the New York lineup that could not be easily filled, so the Yankees can ill afford to lose him.
He provided much-needed protection for American League MVP Aaron Judge in last season’s lineup, and while Ben Rice, Jazz Chisholm, Trent Grisham and Giancarlo Stanton could all do that to some degree in 2026, Bellinger was the most consistent hitter among them in 2025.
The Yankees have other needs, such as at least one starting pitcher, some bullpen pieces and some depth hitters, meaning they can’t necessarily sit on their hands until Boras is ready to get serious with Bellinger’s negotiations.
However, Bellinger’s return feels like the top priority for a Yankees team that has reached the playoffs eight times in the past nine years and is in search of its first World Series title since 2009.