The New York Yankees lost Juan Soto last offseason, but acquired a former MVP Award winner from the Chicago Cubs to help replace him. Cody Bellinger was great for the Yankees in his first season, but he is now a free agent.
Bellinger slashed .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs. It was the most home runs he’s hit since his MVP season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He played well enough to opt out of his deal in hopes of finding a better deal in free agency. He should have no shortage of suitors, but his price tag will be high.
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel projected Bellinger will sign a six-year, $165 million deal in free agency. That would give him an average annual value of $27.5 million.
“Bellinger is an average defensive center fielder who is above average in a corner-outfield spot and solid at first base, as well,” wrote McDaniel. “His wide base of skills and versatility give him a high floor, and the adjustability of changing his offensive approach in the big leagues suggests he’ll age well. There aren’t many potential core position players in this class, but Bellinger still being young for a free agent while fitting well at four positions should give him a robust market. I see five or six years here, and I think he’ll clear $150 million.”
His versatility makes him an intriguing player for teams to consider. Additionally, he has been praised as a clubhouse presence. Bellinger has noted he would “absolutely” consider re-signing with the Yankees, according to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch. General manager Brian Cashman has also spoken highly of Bellinger.
“He was an impact player for us,” Cashman said in October, per Hoch. “I’m glad we got him. He was one of the many reasons why we were in a position to believe that we were capable of great things this year, and so I thank him for everything he’s done. Certainly, we’d love to have him with our team moving forward.”
Bellinger is one of the better free agents in this class. He should be able to find a new team fairly easily if the Yankees do not meet his demands.
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