Although Bellinger’s ability to play first base probably wouldn’t be a factor for a team with Rafael Devers And Bryce Eldridge in line for first base/DH duty, Bellinger would be a perfect fit for the Giants’ vacancy in right field. San Francisco could also shift Bellinger to left or center field at times, depending on how Heliot Ramos or Junghoo Lee are deployed. Bellinger is more of a serviceable candidate in midfield than a true regular, but he is a strong defender in the corners. His work as a left fielder and right fielder for the Yankees in 2025 produced +15 defensive runs saved and +6 outs above average.
Bellinger’s bat would also fit well in the Giants’ lineup, as the 30-year-old is coming off a 125 wRC+ season (29 home runs, .272/.334/.480 in 656 plate appearances) in New York. Bellinger hit much better at Yankee Stadium than on the road, which could be a concern for the Giants if Bellinger were to play his home games at pitcher-friendly Oracle Park. On the plus side, the left-handed Bellinger hits both right-handed and left-handed pitchers well, and he has one of the tougher hitters in the sport to strike out over the past three seasons.
The Giants have been linked to Bellinger a few times during his previous forays into free agency, although that was back when Farhan Zaidi was in charge of San Francisco’s front office. Current president of baseball operations Buster Posey was still on the team’s board of directors at the time, and obviously Posey has plenty of on-field experience going up against Bellinger during Bellinger’s days as a staple of the Dodgers lineup. Posey has also done business with another of Scott Boras’ clients Matt Chapmanas Posey was instrumental in finalizing Chapman’s extension late in the 2024 season.
It’s possible the Giants’ call on Bellinger was routine due diligence, or simply to test the waters to gauge Bellinger’s interest in coming to San Francisco. The bigger question, of course, is whether or not the Giants are willing to meet Bellinger’s asking price. MLB Trade Rumors predicted that the former NL MVP (who ranked eighth on our top 50 free agents list) would get a five-year contract worth $140 million, as Boras is surely looking to finally get the guaranteed long-term deal that eluded Bellinger during the 2023-2024 offseason.
Giants team president Greg Johnson is openly wary of long-term contracts in general, especially for pitchers. Bellinger being a position player could mean the Giants are more open to a big contract, but the team has already invested a lot of money in Devers, Chapman, Lee and Willy Adames for at least the 2029 season.
For as many holes as San Francisco has in its lineup, starting pitching is more of a necessity, as the Giants only Logan Webb, Robbie RayAnd Landen Roupp set up for rotation spots. If the Giants are really hesitant about investing heavily in starting pitchers, they could try to meet their rotation needs via trade, perhaps using free agent dollars to sign a prominent position player (like Bellinger).
The Yankees were the team most directly linked to Bellinger’s services, as New York was known to prioritize a known number in Bellinger ahead of other top targets such as Kyle Tucker. The Mets, Angels, Blue Jays and Phillies have also reportedly expressed interest in Bellinger this winter, although Philadelphia is now likely a less likely suitor. Kyle Schwarber has redrawn.
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