Mets do Yankees big favor in Cody Bellinger pursuit; Here’s latest

The Yankees went into the winter not confident that free agent outfielder Cody Bellinger would return even though making a substantial offer always was the plan.

Optimism grew over the last few weeks even though their two offers reportedly were countered with demands for about another $100 million and two more seasons. The Yankees believed their second proposal, five years for $160 million, was the highest and fair.

All along though, there was the realization that Bellinger’s agent would drag this on and on in hopes of other franchises driving up the price, because that’s what Scott Boras almost always does.

And, of course, the Mets always have been a threat to turn this into another New York/New York bidding war with a Boras client … and win like they did last offseason with Juan Soto. Mets owner Steve Cohen has three times the net worth as the Yankees’ Hal Steinbrenner and family, roughly $21 billion to $7 billion.

With spring training reporting dates less than three weeks away, this is the week that Bellinger is going to request best-and-final offers and make a decision.

Surprisingly, the Mets seemingly dropped out of the running late Tuesday night. Instead of Cohen ordering president of baseball operations David Stearns to outbid the Yankees after insisting on a short-term deal, the Mets addressed their desire for an outfield add by making a trade with the White Sox.

The Mets traded two prospects to the ChiSox for Cuban center fielder Luis Robert Jr., a right-handed-hitting slugger who has mixed one sensational season into a career that’s included a lot of injuries and struggles. Robert, 28, isn’t close to as much as a sure thing as Bellinger, but he had a 38-homer, 20-steal season in 2023 and is a lot cheaper. The Mets are only on the hook for $20 million this year, then they’ll have a $20 million club option for 2027 if they want him for a second season.

As for Bellinger, the Yankees’ biggest competition appears to have punted.

According to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman, there were at least two others in the running besides the New York teams as of Tuesday, so the Yankees may not be home free yet.

Possibilities include a Yankees’ rival that lost out last week on a major free agent signing.

The Blue Jays made the richest offer to corner outfielder Kyle Tucker, who passed on going to Toronto for $350 million over 10 seasons to head to the Dodgers on a four-year, $240-million contract.

Tucker would have made up for the Jays letting shortstop Bo Bichette walk.

Thus, Bellinger makes sense for the Jays, who want to load up as much as they can after losing Game 7 of the World Series to the Dodgers last October. Also, the Jays’ gain would be a big loss for their biggest AL East rival, the Yankees.

In addition, two Blue Jays star outfielders are a year away from free agency and may be elsewhere by 2027, George Springer and Daulton Varsho.

Indeed, the Jays could be a threat, but as of early this week they were “not in on” Bellinger, according to Sirius XM host/former MLB GM Jim Bowden.

Yes, that could change.

Who else could be involved?

The Phillies are a possibility because they’re a big-market club in the win-now mode.

Just last week the Phils were outbid by the Mets for free agent infielder Bo Bichette, so they were looking to add. But the Athletic reported on Tuesday that Philly is likely done with major offseason acquisitions after re-signing DH Kyle Schwarber and catcher J.T. Realmuto, signing outfielder Adolis Garcia and strengthening their bullpen.

If the Blue Jays and Phillies indeed are out, Bellinger’s only real option appears to be the Yankees … unless a mystery team emerges.

The Yankees have decided not to overpay for Bellinger and are willing to live with however this plays out, but appear in better shape than ever to get their man.

They can thank the Mets.

The Yankees were jarred last winter when they thought they had a deal to re-sign Soto after upping their offer to $760 million for 16 years offer and lost out. Instead, Boras went back to the Mets one more time and got $765 million for 16 years.

With Bellinger, the Yankees knew they were playing Russian roulette sending strong signals that they weren’t going to budge from their offer, especially after Tucker went off the board last week.

The Yankees have stood their ground, then waited. They want Bellinger back, but are comfortable their backup plan, which is moving on with second-year talent Jasson Dominguez in left field.

The Yankees’ tactic looks like it’s going to work out. Bellinger appears to have one good offer, five years for $160 million from the Yankees.

With the Mets probably out, the Phillies also likely out and the Blue Jays seemingly out, Bellinger returning to the Yankees appears to be a sure thing.