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Yankees predicted to lose Cody Bellinger.
The New York Yankees have been locked into free agency discussions with star outfielder Cody Bellinger all offseason long.
At the beginning of the offseason, there was an expectation that the two sides would be able to work out a new deal to stay together. However, as time has gone on, those expectations have diminished some.
With Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette signing last week, the rumors surrounding Bellinger have picked up steam. While the Yankees still seem to be hoping that he’ll re-sign, there is no guarantee that they will receive a favorable outcome.
Other teams, such as the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays, could come swooping in to sign him. Losing out on Tucker could make them consider a much more aggressive pursuit of Bellinger.
Keeping that in mind, a new update was provided by USA Today MLB insider Bob Nightengale on Monday morning. It’s not the kind of update that New York fans were hoping to hear.
“The Yankees open the week still waiting on decision by Cody Bellinger,” Nightengale wrote on X. “They are sitting with a 5-year, $160 million offer with no deferrals and two opt-outs. If the Toronto Blue Jays or Mets decide to beat it, they’ll be hit with 110% luxury tax penalties. The standoff continues.”
The New York Yankees Have a Fair Offer on the Table
There have been some who have urged the Yankees to get more aggressive with their offer to Bellinger. That being said, the offer on the table is fair.
Assuming Nightengale’s report is correct and New York is offering $160 million across five years with no deferrals and two opt-outs, that is a very reasonable offer for Bellinger. He may be holding out in hopes of a better deal, but the Yankees simply should not bid against themselves.
Bellinger was extremely productive in his first season with New York after being acquired last offseason in a trade with the Chicago Cubs. Losing him would be a tough blow.
Despite those things being facts, Bellinger isn’t worth overspending. If the Yankees lose out on him with this kind of offer on the table, then so be it.
What Would the Yankees Be Losing If Cody Bellinger Walks?
During the 2025 MLB season, Bellinger played in 152 games for New York. He hit 29 home runs to go along with 98 RBI, while also producing a slash line of .272/.334/.480.
Those numbers would be extremely difficult to replace. There is no denying the fact that the Yankees’ offense would take a dip if Bellinger walked away.
While those things are true, Bellinger is not irreplaceable. He might be hard to replace this offseason in free agency, but New York could turn to the trade market or wait for free agency next offseason. The Yankees do not need to overpay.
Hopefully, Bellinger will end up re-signing on the deal that New York has offered. It’s fair for both sides. Should he choose to leave, the Yankees should be comfortable knowing that they offered fair value and will be able to use that money to replace him at some point down the road.
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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