NEW YORK — The Yankees have set their direction for the winter. General manager Brian Cashman said Wednesday that keeping Cody Bellinger is the focus of their offseason plan, while noting the former MVP will draw wide interest from other clubs as free agency moves forward.
Cashman joined reporters by video from the East Coast while most of his front office staff attended the general managers’ meetings in Las Vegas. He spoke clearly about the Yankees’ intent to bring back the 30-year-old outfielder who finished last season with a .813 OPS and 29 home runs.
“We’re very interested in bringing him back,” Cashman said. “Obviously now that he’s a free agent, he’s gonna have a lot of choices because he can do a lot of different things.”
Brian Cashman says the Yankees are "very interested" in re-signing Cody Bellinger:
The Yankees traded for Bellinger last December, sending the Chicago Cubs reliever Cody Poteet and $5 million in cash. The deal came soon after New York lost Juan Soto to the Mets. It proved to be one of the Yankees’ best decisions of the year. Bellinger became their second-most valuable player behind Aaron Judge, posting 4.9 fWAR while batting in the middle of the order.
Bellinger’s market heating up as contenders circle
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Scott Boras represents Bellinger, and the agent has already begun speaking with several interested teams. Early projections around the league suggest Bellinger could secure a six-year contract worth about $165 million. He opted out of the final year of his earlier deal, which would have paid him $25 million in 2026.
The Yankees know they are not alone in the chase. The Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers and the Mets have each been linked to the outfielder. Bellinger can handle all three outfield spots and first base, qualities that add to his appeal.
“I just think the whole dynamic suited them and suited him,” Boras said about Bellinger’s time with the Yankees. “It was really an ideal fit. It was really a well-made ride for everybody.”
Bellinger produced strong numbers in New York and delivered some of his best work against left-handers. He led all left-handed hitters with a .415 on-base percentage and a .601 slugging percentage versus left-handed pitching. His 29 home runs were his highest total since his 2019 National League MVP season with the Dodgers.
Grisham decision looms as Yankees juggle outfield options
The Yankees also extended a $22.025 million qualifying offer to Trent Grisham, who played a major part in their 2025 outfield mix. He has until Tuesday to choose whether to accept or decline the one-year deal. Grisham, a two-time Gold Glove winner, set a career-high with 34 home runs last season after struggling at the plate in earlier years.
Cashman said the Yankees would be “comfortable” if Grisham accepted the offer. Analysts around the sport think Grisham could secure a multiyear contract worth $12 million to $15 million per year if he enters the open market.
“We’d be happy if he accepted,” Cashman said.
Cashman added that keeping Grisham would not stop the Yankees from pursuing Bellinger. Both players could stay in New York, though doing so would require a major financial commitment from ownership as the Yankees manage payroll goals and luxury tax implications.
Alternative plans emerge if Bellinger signs elsewhere
Cashman said the Yankees must be ready if Bellinger chooses another club. Kyle Tucker stands out as one of the biggest names on the free agent market. Tucker hit .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs for the Cubs last season and has been one of the most consistent outfielders in the league.
Tucker would likely cost more than Bellinger. Early estimates point to a 10-year deal worth more than $400 million. That price could be too steep for the Yankees as owner Hal Steinbrenner weighs spending limits for 2026 and beyond.
“We’d be better served if we could retain him,” Cashman said of Bellinger. “But if not, then we’ll have to look at alternative ways to fill it and see where that takes us. But it’s pretty early in the process.”
The Yankees led MLB in home runs and OPS last season. Even so, they fell short of their goals. The Toronto Blue Jays knocked them out in the American League Division Series after New York finished second in the AL East with 94 wins.
Timeline remains fluid as winter meetings approach
Cashman said he hopes to have more certainty on Bellinger’s situation before the start of the Winter Meetings in Orlando in four weeks. Last offseason, the Yankees waited for the Soto market to settle before moving to their next options.
“Last year we put all our chips in the Soto basket and had to wait that one out,” Cashman said.
This winter feels different. The Yankees named Bellinger as their top target early and chose to share that information publicly. Cashman’s remarks reflect the urgency inside the organization as it works to secure the outfield before shifting focus to other needs.
The Yankees still have bullpen depth, rotation help and bench upgrades on their offseason list. Those moves will come after the front office makes final decisions on Bellinger and Grisham.
“I said it before and I’ll say it again: Of course we’d like to have him back,” Cashman said.
The Yankees see their pursuit of Bellinger as the most important move of their offseason. Whether they succeed in keeping him could shape the club’s standing in a competitive American League East.
