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Yankees predicted to land versatile pitcher.
The New York Yankees have been in the news almost every single day over the last couple of weeks. Lately, that news has had to do with the future of star outfielder Cody Bellinger.
Entering the MLB offseason, the Yankees were hopeful that they would be able to re-sign Bellinger. As the offseason has moved forward, that option has become problematic.
While the two sides have remained in constant communication, they haven’t been able to get a deal done. Now, there are other teams who are showing heavy levels of interest in signing him.
Bellinger could still opt to return to New York on a new contract. He has a good offer on the table for the Yankees. However, another team could swoop in and steal him away.
Yankees Showing Interest in Potential Cody Bellinger Replacement
With that being said, New York has been diligent in exploring other potential options. Should the Yankees lose Bellinger, they’ll need to find a way to patch the hole that his absence would leave.
According to a report from MLB insider Jon Heyman of The Athletic, New York has shown interest in free agent outfielder Austin Hays. He also noted that both the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals are also interested.
“Cardinals, Yankees and Mets are among many teams who’ve maintained contact with free agent OF Austin Hays, who was fully healthy and had a very nice season in 2025,” Heyman wrote on X on January 20. “Cody Bellinger remains the top OF target of the two NY teams.”
Hays would not be able to completely replace Bellinger. He’s nowhere close to the level of player that Bellinger has been throughout his career.
That being said, Hays is the kind of player who could step in and play meaningful baseball.
Last season with the Cincinnati Reds, Hays played in 103 games. He hit 15 home runs to go along with 64 RBI, while also producing a slash line of .266/.315/.453. Hays would be a solid option for the Yankees if Bellinger walks.
What Else Could New York Look to Do This Offseason?
Bellinger isn’t the only name that has been connected to New York of late. The Yankees have also been rumored to have a high level of interest in Milwaukee Brewers star pitcher Freddy Peralta.
Peralta has a big market. Quite a few teams around the league would love to have a chance to acquire him. If the Brewers do decide to trade him, New York will be one of the teams most aggressive in its pursuit of a deal.
During the 2025 MLB season with Milwaukee, Peralta made 33 starts. In those appearances, he compiled a 17-6 record to go along with a 2.70 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, a 3.1 K/BB ratio, and 176.2 innings pitched.
In an ideal world, the Yankees would be able to re-sign Bellinger and trade for Peralta. Should they fail to keep Bellinger, adding Hays and Peralta would do just fine.
Expect to continue hearing rumors about New York. The Yankees have remained active this offseason and it sounds like Bellinger’s decision could be coming in the near future.
Evan Massey Evan Massey is a sports reporter and analyst located in Indianapolis, Indiana who covers the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, and college sports. He has been featured on many publications, including Newsweek, Athlon Sports, ESPN, Yahoo! Sports, Forbes, Bleacher Report, Sporting News, and many others. In his free time, Evan enjoys spending time with his wife and son. More about Evan Massey
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