New York — The Mets have their eye on another Yankees star.
They stole Juan Soto last winter. Steve Cohen’s checkbook stays open. The crosstown rivals have made their interest in Cody Bellinger perfectly clear. And it might not matter one bit.
New intel suggests the Yankees are on the verge of keeping their prized outfielder in pinstripes. The only thing standing in the way? Nothing, apparently.
SNY insider says it is ‘extremely likely’
Emmanuel Berbari of SNY delivered a strong prediction during Baseball Night in NY this week. The insider said everything he has gathered points to Bellinger returning to the Bronx.
“In terms of what’s more likely, everything I’ve gathered so far, the Yankees really want Bellinger back,” Berbari said.
He acknowledged the Mets make sense as a landing spot. Bellinger could play first base or the outfield for a team that needs help at both positions. But desire matters in free agency.
“And the only thing that could hold this up? His Bellinger not wanting to be back,” Berbari said. “But Bellinger loved it here from day one.”
The report sent a clear message. Bellinger wants to stay. The Yankees want him back. Both sides appear ready to make it happen.
“So if the only thing that can hold this entire thing up is Bellinger’s desire to be a Yankee, and the desire is there, he’s going to be a New York,” Berbari said. “So I think it’s extremely likely he’s back.”
A family connection that runs deep
Berbari pointed to something beyond baseball statistics. The fit goes deeper than numbers.
“The connection to his father, the fit at Yankee Stadium he embraces,” Berbari explained. “Wearing the pinstripes was a match made in heaven all year long.”
Clay Bellinger played for the Yankees from 1999 to 2001. He won two World Series titles in the Bronx. Cody grew up around that clubhouse. He remembers walking past Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera as a kid. His best friend was the son of pitcher Andy Pettitte.
When Cody took the field for the Yankees on Opening Day 2025, he and Clay became the fourth father-son duo to play for the franchise. The emotion of that moment stayed with both of them all season.
“Ultimately, I want to help this team win it all, like my dad did,” Cody said earlier. “That’s the real goal.”
That desire has not faded. If anything, missing the World Series in 2025 only strengthened it.
The numbers that justify Bellinger’s price
Bellinger posted his best season since winning NL MVP in 2019. He hit .272 with 29 home runs and 98 RBI in 152 games. His 5.0 bWAR ranked second on the Yankees behind Aaron Judge.
The home and road splits tell an even better story. At Yankee Stadium, Bellinger slashed .302/.365/.544 with an OPS of .909 and 18 home runs. His swing fits the short porch perfectly.
He played all three outfield positions and logged time at first base. He recorded seven outs above average on defense. He struck out at a career-low rate of 13.7 percent.
Contract projections vary widely. ESPN projects six years at $165 million. Spotrac estimates six years at $182 million. Cleveland.com’s Zach Mentz predicted six years at $162 million.
Agent Scott Boras hyped his client’s value during a recent interview.
“Really, he’s the only five-tool free agent outfielder,” Boras said. “And when you look at the ’25 season, I’d say among all the free agent outfielders, he was the top gun of the class.”
The Mets threat that may not materialize
The New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported the Mets are “interested” in Bellinger. They need an outfielder after trading Brandon Nimmo to Texas. They could use help at first base if Pete Alonso leaves.
One small negative for the Mets: Bellinger bats left-handed, just like Soto. Adding another lefty would make the lineup somewhat unbalanced.
The Dodgers also lurk as a potential suitor. They drafted Bellinger and watched him win Rookie of the Year and MVP in Los Angeles. USA Today’s Gabe Lacques called Bellinger the Dodgers’ Plan B if they cannot land Kyle Tucker.
But the Yankees have the strongest hand. Brian Cashman has made his intentions clear.
“We’re very interested in bringing Bellinger back,” Cashman said.
Why the fit works both ways
The Athletic’s Andy McCullough predicted the Yankees will re-sign Bellinger in his Black Friday free agent projections.
“Bellinger proved to be an excellent fit during his first season in The Bronx, and the Yankees appear interested in making a long-term commitment,” McCullough wrote.
The versatility matters. The Yankees have Aaron Judge in right field. They have Trent Grisham locked in after he accepted the qualifying offer. Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones are waiting in the wings. Bellinger can slot in anywhere.
But more than that, the emotional attachment matters. Bellinger talked about it after the playoffs ended.
“It was a fun group to be a part of,” Bellinger said. “We came up short, and that part stinks for sure, because we had a really, really good group here.”
The money will get sorted out. Boras will push for every dollar. The Yankees will counter. Negotiations will stretch into December.
But when a player wants to be somewhere and a team wants him back, deals usually get done. The Mets may be interested. The Dodgers may circle back. None of it may matter in the end.
Cody Bellinger looks destined to wear pinstripes again. Just like his father did 25 years ago.
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