New York — Cody Bellinger just signed a five-year, $162.5 million extension with the New York Yankees. The 30-year-old outfielder enjoyed a strong 2025 season in pinstripes. He posted his best numbers since his MVP campaign in 2019.
Yet somehow, a rough week has found him anyway.
MLB Network released its annual Top 10 left fielders list on Tuesday. Bellinger landed at number three. That sounds respectable until you see who sits above him. Two Boston Red Sox outfielders claimed the top spots. Roman Anthony and Jarren Duran both ranked ahead of the former National League MVP.
The ranking sparked immediate debate across MLB circles. It also came on the heels of a separate controversy involving a prominent New York Post insider and his blistering critique of Yankees fans.
The numbers tell a different story
Bellinger finished the 2025 MLB season with impressive numbers. He hit .272 with 29 home runs and 98 RBIs across 152 games. He posted a 125 OPS+ and accumulated 5.1 bWAR. That marked his strongest season since winning the NL MVP with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019.
The Red Sox outfielders who ranked above him did not match those totals.
Roman Anthony played in only 71 games as a rookie. He showed promise but produced nowhere near Bellinger’s statistical output. Jarren Duran hit .256 with 16 home runs in 2025. He finished with fewer hits, home runs, and RBIs than the Yankees outfielder.
MLB Network uses its algorithm called “The Shredder” to generate these rankings. The methodology behind the list remains murky to many observers. Even defenders of the system have questioned certain placements this year.
Glaring inconsistencies in the top 10
The problems extend beyond Bellinger’s ranking. Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan has won four consecutive Gold Gloves. He did not appear on the list at all.
Meanwhile, Yordan Alvarez landed at number seven. The Houston Astros slugger missed a majority of the 2025 season with injury. He has not consistently played left field in several years.
Brandon Marsh came in at number 10. Behind Bellinger on the list are Riley Greene, Kyle Stowers, Jackson Chourio, and James Wood. The criteria remain confusing at best and questionable at worst.
Sherman’s explosive comments stun fans
The ranking controversy arrived alongside another headline involving Bellinger and the Yankees. Joel Sherman of the New York Post went on an NSFW tirade during his Pinstripe Post podcast. The longtime insider has earned respect for his critical coverage of the organization. He has held management accountable during the team’s struggles.
This time, he turned his criticism toward fans.
“Will any of those people shut the fuck up now? They will not shut the fuck up,” Sherman said after the Bellinger signing. He called certain fans “stupid” and “attention-seeking” while suggesting owner Hal Steinbrenner made critics eat their words.
The comments caught many off guard. Sherman has been among the most vocal critics of the front office. He pressed Brian Cashman during the 2023 GM Meetings. He asked tough questions after the Blue Jays eliminated the Yankees in October. He even brought up DJ LeMahieu’s awful contract just last week.
Fans search for answers
Yankees supporters expressed confusion across social media. Many viewed Sherman as an ally in their frustrations with the organization. His balance of reason and vitriol matched their own feelings about the team.
Some acknowledged the irrational segment of the fanbase. Not everyone criticizing the team operated from a place of knowledge. But most fans watching the clip wondered why now was the time for such a rant.
The Bellinger signing represented good news. The team locked up a productive player. Most fans expressed relief at his return. So why the explosive response to criticism that had largely subsided?
Context behind the criticism
The worry about Bellinger returning had legitimate roots. The Yankees operated in the luxury tax danger zone. Steinbrenner himself questioned whether a $300 million payroll was necessary to win a championship. Trent Grisham unexpectedly accepted the $22 million qualifying offer. That move appeared to clog the outfield and add unnecessary expenditure.
The combination of Bellinger’s market, Scott Boras’ aggressive representation, and the Yankees’ sluggish offseason approach created genuine concern. The team has lowered payroll before to reset the luxury tax. They have capped spending despite roster holes. Some fans feared history repeating itself.
Sherman likely targeted the loudest voices yelling into the void with no direction. Those fans exist. But his typical audience operates with rightful rage and pointed inquisition. The disconnect left many puzzled.
Bellinger’s value remains clear
Despite the MLB Network ranking, Bellinger’s production speaks for itself. He fit immediately with the Yankees after arriving from the Chicago Cubs in a December 2024 trade. His bat played well at Yankee Stadium. He posted his highest home run total since 2019. He produced his most walks and total bases since that MVP campaign.
The five-year deal keeps him in the Bronx through his age-35 season. The contract includes player opt-outs after the second and third years. General manager Brian Cashman identified Bellinger among the top winter targets. He succeeded in retaining him despite competition from multiple teams.
The ranking will fade from memory. Sherman’s comments will generate debate for a few days longer. What matters is what happens on the field. Bellinger delivered in 2025. The Yankees bet he will continue delivering through 2030.
Questions that remain
The dual controversies leave Yankees fans in an odd position. They can celebrate Bellinger’s return while questioning his placement behind Red Sox outfielders with lesser production. They can appreciate Sherman’s past accountability reporting while wondering why he chose this moment to attack.
The MLB Network’s methodology deserves scrutiny. Placing a rookie who played 71 games and a player with inferior numbers above a former MVP coming off a 5.1 WAR season makes little sense. The rankings generate conversation. That appears to be the primary goal.
As for Sherman, unless he addresses the criticism directly, fans will remain confused. For 30 seconds, it felt like Steinbrenner and Cashman overtook his soul. The rest of the podcast maintained his usual measured tone.
Bellinger will get the final word when spring training opens. His swing, not any ranking or rant, will determine how the 2026 season unfolds for the Yankees.
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