NEW YORK — The New York Yankees want Cody Bellinger to stay in pinstripes. Their interest has never been in doubt. But getting him to agree on a new deal now appears far more frustrating than the front office expected.
A league insider revealed that concern is growing inside the Yankees about their chances of keeping the star outfielder. The picture has become harder to navigate as agent Scott Boras prepares for what many believe will turn into another bidding war that the Yankees may struggle to win.
Familiar fears surface in the Bronx
Bob Klapisch of NJ.com shared a bleak view of the current distance between the Yankees and Bellinger.
“Of course, the Yankees want him back. They love everything about his game,” Klapisch wrote. “But there’s a strong sense of pessimism about the next four weeks. You could also call it realism — the expectation that Boras is about to pull a Soto 2.0.”
That warning hits close to home for Yankees fans. The Yankees traded for Juan Soto in 2023 without any guarantee he would remain after the 2024 season. When Soto reached free agency, Boras built a strong market that ended with the Mets signing Soto to a 15 year, 765 million dollar contract. The Yankees may now face another similar fight with Bellinger.
The Boras factor looms large
One executive explained to Klapisch what teams face when they negotiate with Boras.
“When you negotiate with Scott, you’re not the one in control,” the executive told Klapisch. “You’re just flying in his plane, along for the ride while he decides where he’s going to land.”
That view matches Boras’s history. He has secured some of the biggest deals in baseball. He negotiated Gerrit Cole’s 324 million dollar contract with the Yankees. He has also shaped many other record contracts across the league. He rarely accepts discounts. Sentiment does not guide his process. His job is to bring the highest value back to his clients.
The math could work, but will Boras play ball?
Even with Trent Grisham taking the one year qualifying offer worth more than 22 million dollars, Klapisch believes the Yankees still have enough room to pay Bellinger. The issue is what Boras may ask for.
“It depends, however, on whether Boras will play hardball and demand a six or seven year contract at 30 million per,” Klapisch wrote.
MLB Trade Rumors predicted Bellinger could sign for five years and 140 million dollars. The New York Post’s Greg Joyce reported Bellinger could reach a multi year deal above 150 million dollars. That type of deal would be a major investment for a player entering his age 31 season.
Klapisch predicts Yankees will step aside
Klapisch offered a direct prediction about how the Yankees may react.
“My crystal ball says the Yankees won’t go that high,” Klapisch wrote. “Nor do I think they’ll go that high with right fielder Kyle Tucker. The organization is more than willing to stick with Jasson Dominguez in left and raise the curtain on Spencer Jones in center.”
That idea points to a possible shift toward younger talent. It may signal that the Yankees will avoid a battle they believe could drain resources and limit flexibility long term.
A resurgent season makes Bellinger valuable
Bellinger gave the Yankees exactly what they needed after his arrival from the Chicago Cubs in December 2024. He hit 29 home runs and drove in 98 runs. He also posted a 5.0 WAR. Those numbers marked his best output since he won the 2019 National League MVP Award with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
His splits also tell a clear story. Bellinger hit .302 with a .365 on base percentage and a .544 slugging percentage in Yankee Stadium. He hit 18 home runs there in 80 games. On the road, he batted .241 with a .301 on base percentage and a .414 slugging percentage. He hit 11 home runs in 72 road games. The Yankee Stadium swing path suits him well. But Boras bases decisions on value, not comfort.
The Mets just entered the chat
The situation became more complex when the Mets traded Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers for Marcus Semien on Sunday. That move opened a hole in their outfield and suggested the Mets will chase top free agent outfielders. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns addressed their options.
“Anything would be realistic right now,” Stearns said when asked about signing a major outfielder while also keeping Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz.
MLB.com insider Mark Feinsand believes the Mets will pursue either Bellinger or Kyle Tucker.
“Trading Nimmo certainly creates a vacancy in the Mets’ outfield,” Feinsand wrote. “For Tucker and Bellinger, having the big budget Mets involved in any potential bidding war has to be viewed as a positive.”
For the Yankees, having their wealthiest rival in the mix adds another major hurdle. They have fought the Mets for top talent before. The Mets have outspent them several times in recent years.
The Yankees brand beaten but not out
Klapisch also shared a tough view on how the Yankees are seen across the league.
“Gone are the days when the Yankees could get away with simply marketing the pinstripes,” he wrote. “The brand isn’t what it used to be.”
The Dodgers have outpaced the Yankees in performance and spending for more than a decade. The Mets under owner Steve Cohen have shown they can outbid almost anyone. The Yankees remain a historic franchise, but the power of their brand no longer guarantees they will win free agent races.
The next four weeks will determine whether Bellinger stays with the Yankees or joins the list of stars who left. General manager Brian Cashman made his stance clear.
“We’d love to have Bellinger come back,” Cashman said at the GM Meetings.
Whether that desire will match the contract Boras seeks is still uncertain. The Yankees must now decide how far they are willing to go and whether they can compete with a market that grows larger each day.
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