Yankees’ Cody Bellinger receives $165 million contract update from ESPN originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Yankees are heading into what could be a very busy offseason. With major question marks all around the roster, Brian Cashman could get busy over the winter.

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One of the main moves that New York will try to make is re-signing Cody Bellinger. The 30-year-old is a free agent and will likely see plenty of suitors.

Amid such widespread interest, ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel made a new contract projection for Bellinger, and it’s a huge one at $165 million.

Yankees’ Cody Bellinger receives $165 million contract projection

ESPN’s projected contract is a big one: “6 years, $165 million ($27.5M AAV).”

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Bellinger is coming off a strong season in New York, playing mainly the outfield, while logging some time at first base.

In his first season with the Yankees, after New York acquired him from the Chicago Cubs over the 2024-2025 offseason, he turned things around.

From 2020 until 2024, Bellinger had one season above 2.2 bWAr, a 4.8 bWAR season in 2023 with the Cubs. But after a small step back in 2024, Bellinger was great in 2025.

He had 5.1 bWAR, the second-highest mark of his career, and reached very strong numbers overall. Bellinger had a .272/.334/.480 slash line with an .813 OPS.

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In 151 games played, the Yankees outfielder had 160 hits, 89 runs scored, 25 doubles, five triples, 29 home runs, 98 RBIs, 12 stolen bases, 57 walks, and 90 strikeouts.

Bellinger’s 2025 was the best year of his career since his 2019 MVP season. While he hasn’t made an All-Star team since 2019, this year was a huge step in the right direction.

His strong offense and great defense make Bellinger one of the more appealing free agents in this year’s class. If the Yankees want to bring him back, it won’t come cheap, as ESPN projects Bellinger to sign a contract of $165 million over six years.

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