NEW YORK — The Yankees want Cody Bellinger back. Everyone knows that. But what happens if he signs elsewhere?
A new report suggests the front office has already mapped out a contingency plan. And it might not be what fans expect.
Bellinger opted out of his contract after hitting .272 with 29 home runs in 2025. He posted a 4.9 fWAR, his best mark since winning NL MVP in 2019. The switch-hitting outfielder brought balance to a left-handed heavy lineup. He played elite defense in center field.
General manager Brian Cashman has made Bellinger his top priority. Aaron Boone has said publicly the team wants him back. The two sides have discussed terms.
But agent Scott Boras represents Bellinger. The asking price remains high. No team has come close to meeting the demands, according to YES Network insider Jack Curry.
Yankees prospect solution already on the roster
Yankees Source reported this week that the team has an internal option ready.
“If the Yankees can’t secure Bellinger, Jones could seamlessly step into left field,” they noted on X.
Spencer Jones is the team’s top outfield prospect. The 24-year-old tore through the minor leagues in 2025. He split time between Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He was named to the All-MiLB Prospect First Team.
The numbers were eye-popping. Jones slugged 35 home runs, the most by a Yankees minor leaguer in over a decade. He finished second in all of minor league baseball in that category, trailing only the Dodgers’ Ryan Ward. He added 80 RBI, 102 runs scored and 29 stolen bases in 116 games.
His triple slash line of .274/.362/.571 gave him a .933 OPS. His exit velocities regularly topped 110 mph. His 90th percentile exit velocity reached 107.7 mph.
But there is a catch. Jones struck out 179 times in 2025. He became the first Yankee minor leaguer to fan 200 times in 2024. The swing-and-miss tendency remains the primary obstacle to a permanent call-up.
The free agent alternatives if Bellinger walks
Tommy Wild of Yankees Roundtable identified three outfielders the team could pursue if Bellinger signs elsewhere. Each brings something different to the table.
Harrison Bader knows the organization. He wore pinstripes in 2022 and helped the team reach the ALCS. He hit five home runs in nine playoff games that October.
Bader just had the best offensive season of his career. He posted a .277/.347/.449 slash line with 17 home runs for the Twins and Phillies. His .796 OPS represented a significant jump from his career average of .714.
Defense has always been his calling card. He ranked in the 92nd percentile in outs above average in 2025. He finished seventh among all qualified outfielders with plus-13 defensive runs saved. His arm strength sat in the 84th percentile.
Bellinger was more than just a bat for the Yankees. He brought elite range in center field and strong run prevention. Bader could replicate that defensive impact if the team misses out on their top target.
A familiar face from the AL East
Austin Hays spent four seasons terrorizing Yankees pitching with the Baltimore Orioles. He knows Yankee Stadium well.
The numbers in the Bronx tell the story. Hays has a .298/.337/.564 slash line in 94 career at-bats at Yankee Stadium. The short porch in right field suits his swing.
Hays bounced back in 2025 with the Cincinnati Reds. He hit .266/.315/.453 with 15 home runs and a .768 OPS in 103 games. He struggled with injuries in 2024 after a kidney infection limited him to just 85 games between Baltimore and Philadelphia.
The 2023 All-Star thrived against left-handed pitching last season. He posted a .319/.400/.519 slash line with a 155 wRC+ against southpaws. The right-handed bat would balance a lineup that Cashman has said skews too far left.
The Reds declined his $12 million mutual option for 2026. He is available on a short-term deal if the Bellinger pursuit stalls.
Stealing from the Mets
The crosstown rivals have poached several Yankees free agents this winter. Devin Williams. Luke Weaver. Clay Holmes before that. And of course, Juan Soto.
If Bellinger signs elsewhere, Brian Cashman could return the favor.
Starling Marte is entering free agency at age 37. He hit .270/.335/.410 with nine home runs and a .745 OPS for the Mets in 2025. He battled knee issues throughout the season but found a way to contribute in a part-time role.
The two-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner brings postseason experience. He hit .277 with four doubles and nine RBI in 13 playoff games last fall. His veteran presence could steady a young outfield.
Marte would not replace what Bellinger offers. But as a bench piece alongside prospects like Jones and Jasson Dominguez, he could provide insurance.
The Bellinger priority remains unchanged
Make no mistake. The Yankees want Bellinger back. They have made that clear publicly and privately.
His production in 2025 justified the one-year, $26 million contract he signed last winter. He hit .272 with 29 home runs and 98 RBI. He posted an .813 OPS. He played Gold Glove-caliber defense in center field.
But Bellinger wants a long-term deal. Reports suggest he is seeking eight years. ESPN projects something closer to five years and $170 million.
The market remains fluid. Kyle Tucker’s eventual contract will likely set the parameters for elite outfielders. Bellinger appears to be waiting for that domino to fall. The Yankees are betting patience will bring his price down.
Until then, the contingency plans stay on the table. Jones is knocking on the door. Bader, Hays and Marte are available. The Yankees have options if their top target slips away.
The question is whether they will need them.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
