The New York Yankees traded for Cody Bellinger in the offseason after losing Juan Soto to the New York Mets. Bellinger has played great so far, and the team may want to keep him around.
Bellinger signed a three-year, $80 million deal with the Chicago Cubs before last season. He opted in for this season, but was traded for Cody Poteet. That deal is turning out to be a steal for the Yankees. Through 86 games, Bellinger has 16 home runs and a .285/.340/.498.
Bellinger has an opt-out in his contract after this season as well. If he opts in, he would be making $25 million next year. However, after the year he is having, he could find a better deal on the open market. FanSided’s Thomas Carannante projected Bellinger could earn a five-year, $140 million extension.
“Bellinger is already earning $27.5 million on his current contract (his player option for 2026 is worth $25 million),” wrote Carannante. “He’ll be entering his age-30 season next year, and we’re not exactly sure if he warrants a raise much higher than his current AAV. He’s probably right where he should be given he’s no longer a perennial MVP-type talent with probably a handful of true prime years remaining.”
“But would anybody take issue with a five-year, $140 million extension? That’s a $28 million AAV that keeps him in tow before the group of Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón and Max Fried starts to get broken up,” Carannante continued. “And that salary would change almost nothing with their payroll given this is the status quo at the moment.”
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Bellinger was the National League MVP in 2019. He had some down years with the Dodgers after that before resurrecting his career with the Cubs. He was a Silver Slugger in 2023 with the Cubs. His father, Clay Bellinger, spent three of his four seasons in the league with the Yankees. Could Bellinger end up signing a deal to keep him in the Bronx?
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