The New York Yankees need to do everything in their power to re-sign Cody Bellinger this offseason. Bellinger was recently projected to sign a massive $168 million deal, per The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, so the task won’t be easy to achieve.
The Yankees will likely have some tough competition in the Bellinger sweepstakes, too.
ESPN’s David Schoenfield recently listed the New York Mets as the favorites in the sweepstakes to sign Bellinger this offseason.
“Bellinger surprisingly tops the list in 2025 WAR, although that doesn’t by any means suggest he’s going to get the biggest contract,” Schoenfield wrote. “Indeed, although he offers positional versatility with his ability to play all three outfield positions as well as first base, teams will be skeptical of his 2025 numbers since he hit .302 with 18 home runs and a .909 OPS at Yankee Stadium with its short porch compared with .241 with 11 home runs and a .715 OPS on the road. Bellinger works for the Mets both in center field — heck, they were playing 33-year-old infielder Jeff McNeil out there at times — and at first, if they don’t re-sign Pete Alonso.”
The Mets desperately need to add an outfielder to their team. But Bellinger’s versatility on defense is what makes him the perfect fit in Queens.
Bellinger can play the outfield or first base. Considering the Mets have a hole in their outfield and Pete Alonso is heading to free agency, Bellinger is the perfect free agent target.
It would take some big spending to land him, but it’s nothing the Mets haven’t done before. A move like this would crush the Yankees.
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