Cody Bellinger joined the New York Yankees last season under great pressure. New York was looking for a left-handed bat to offset the loss of Juan Soto in free agency, while also hoping Bellinger’s ability to play multiple positions would prove valuable. Bellinger met both expectations.
At the plate, he proved to be one of the Yankees’ most consistent threats all season. Bellinger hit .272/.334/.480 (125 OPS+) over 656 PA with 25 doubles, 29 home runs and 98 RBI. His .353/.415/.601 split against left-handed pitchers was the best in the majors.
In the field he was just as useful, appearing in more than 40 games at each of the three outfield positions, while also playing some at first base.
Bellinger made $27.5 million this season and could opt to stay with the Yankees for another year and $25 million. However, it is widely expected that he will opt out of that remaining year and have options on the free agent market.
New York Mets
There’s already a rivalry in the city between the Yankees and Mets, which was only further fueled when Soto moved from one neighborhood to another last winter. Should the Mets steal Bellinger from the Bronx, the tension between the two clubs could get interesting.
The Mets clearly fit the lineup, with first baseman Pete Alonso opting out of the final year of his contract and not expected to return, and a potential hole in the outfield next to Soto and Brandon Nimmo. Tyrone Taylor saw most of the playing time in center field and hit just .223/.279/.319 (70 OPS+). Cedric Mullins was acquired at the trade deadline and also struggled, hitting .182/.284/.281 (62 OPS+). Taylor is a non-tender candidate and Mullins will be a free agent, so the Mets will need to bring in at least one outfielder to replace them.
Sailors of Seattle
Like the Mets, Seattle may have several holes in the lineup that Bellinger could slide neatly into. Julio Rodriguez is the only player locked in the outfield on a daily basis, although Randy Arozarena will likely flank him if not offered (he is projected onto an elevation to just over $18 million). The club’s young players close to making an impact are infielders (Colt Emerson and Michael Arroyo) or a catcher (Harry Ford).
First baseman Josh Naylor proved to be a revelation after acquiring from the Diamondbacks in July, hitting .299/.341/.490 (138 OPS+) over the final two months of the season. Naylor also played a key role in Seattle’s playoff run, making several defensive plays. He is two years younger than Bellinger and both bat left-handed, but Naylor will also reach free agency.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Bellinger grew up in the Phoenix area, so there can be some appeal to “coming home.” The Diamondbacks have also previously expressed interest in acquiring him, having attempted to do so last season before the Cubs ultimately dealt him to New York.
Corbin Carroll has proven himself to be a star in the D-backs’ outfield, hitting .259/.343/.541 (140 OPS+) while becoming the first player in team history with a 30/30 season (31 HR/32 SB). However, he is the one player the team can rely on regularly in the outfield, and this will likely be an area the team focuses on this winter.
Arizona could also use him at first base.
New York Yankees
A reunion with the Yankees cannot be ruled out. Bellinger thrived in New York, adapted in the clubhouse and seemingly quickly endeared himself to a vocal fan base. It probably helped some that most Yankees fans remember his father Clay, who played on two World Series-winning teams in New York between 1999 and 2001.
New York has several hitters hitting free agency this offseason — Bellinger, center fielder Trent Grisham, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and utilityman Amed Rosario — who will create holes on the roster. Re-signing Bellinger would be a big step forward to avoid creating a panic situation where the team makes an effort to play more offensively this winter.
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