Cody Bellinger has experienced some high peaks and low valleys over the course of his nine-year MLB career.
Bellinger’s rise to baseball stardom was quick, as he was named the National League’s Rookie of the Year during his debut campaign in 2017 and won the league’s Most Valuable Player Award two years later. After winning a World Series championship with the Los Angeles Dodgers during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, his final two years in Chavez Ravine were much less productive, as he hit .165 and .210 in 2021 and 2022, respectively, and launched only 29 total home runs.
Now, he seems to be back on an upward swing in his first season with the New York Yankees, which could lead to a big payday should he decided to opt out of his current contract.
Bellinger projected to earn $182 million over the duration of his new contract
Bellinger re-signed with the Chicago Cubs after electing to test free agency ahead of the 2024 season, inking a three-year, $80 million deal. The Yankees have taken on most of that salary since acquiring him in a trade last winter, but there is a chance this could be his only season in the Bronx, as he has a second opt-out clause in his contract that could make him a free agent after the current campaign.
Should he remain with the Yankees for another season, he will become a free agent ahead of the 2027 season instead. But if he doesn’t, how much could he get paid on the open market?
Spotrac projects that he will be among the highest earners in this winter’s class of free agents, as he possesses an estimated market value of $181,881,198 over six years, equating to $30,313,533 annually. Such a deal would put him atop the second tier of free-agent position players, well behind Kyle Tucker (who is predicted to earn $498 million over 12 seasons) but on par with Pete Alonso ($177 million over six years).
Bellinger’s strong play at the plate in 2025 has played a part in him earning a valuation as high as that one. Through 133 games, he put together a .277/.333/.499 slash line with 27 home runs, 88 RBIs and 79 runs scored.
