The New York Yankees are coming off a season in which they didn’t perform up to the standards expected. They still made the playoffs but were ultimately eliminated by their AL East rival, the Toronto Blue Jays. After the loss, it became clear that Cody Bellinger was going to opt out of his contract.
“As expected, New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger plans to opt out of his contract and become a free agent next month, a source told ESPN. Bellinger, 30, has a $25 million player option for next season. After a rebound season in his first year in pinstripes, he presumably will receive widespread interest in free agency—it should yield a lucrative multi-year contract,” ESPN’s Jorge Castillo wrote.
The Yankees are expected to pursue either Kyle Tucker or Bellinger this offseason. However, MLB insider Jon Heyman believes Bellinger is the better fit for New York.
“But the one thing that Bellinger provides that Tucker doesn’t—two things actually—center field and first base. I’ll throw in a third thing: no qualifying offer. Tucker will have a qualifying offer that could affect him a little bit. Not that much because he’s a big star. He is the No. 1 free agent but in many respects Bellinger had a better year,” Heyman said.
The great news for Bellinger is that his expected contract salary continues to rise as the offseason progresses.
“Predicted Contract: 5 years, $140 million. A $28 million AAV would give Bellinger a slight raise over the $26.6 million figure of his last contract, and while he might push for a sixth year, a five-year deal and an option for 2031 might be where his market ultimately lands,” Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter wrote.
This works in the Yankees’ favor, as they are one of the highest payroll teams in baseball. Other contenders for Bellinger may not have as much financial flexibility.
Bellinger will be an attractive free agent, but the expected contract increase only helps the Yankees’ chances. If they secure him, it will make their offseason well worth it.
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