Yankees predicted to sign $150M former MVP, 2-time Silver Slugger, 2X All-Star, Gold Glove winner

Hunter Cookston

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Yankees predicted to sign $150M former MVP, 2-time Silver Slugger, 2X All-Star, Gold Glove winner image

The New York Yankees are having a rather quiet offseason—one they were hoping to avoid. However, with January nearly halfway over, there still hasn’t been a major signing. The good news is that the Yankees are believed to be a finalist in the Cody Bellinger sweepstakes.

“The market for Cody Bellinger is robust with the most likely result that he signs with a big market, contending team as expected with the Yankees, Mets, and Dodgers the most likely landing spots for him at this point in that order,” MLB insider Jim Bowden posted.

Bellinger had a solid year of production for the Yankees, and at the end of the season, he opted out of his contract as expected.

“As expected, New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger plans to opt out of his contract and become a free agent next month, a source told ESPN. Bellinger, 30, has a $25 million player option for next season. After a rebound season in his first year in pinstripes, he presumably will receive widespread interest in free agency — it should yield a lucrative multi-year contract,” ESPN’s Jorge Castillo wrote.

FanSided’s Chris Landers believes the Yankees are going to get a deal done with Bellinger.

“If we learned anything from Saturday's developments, it's that you should never bet against Boras. But Bellinger simply isn't a $200 million player, no matter how many MVP Awards he has in his past, and the bet here is that Brian Cashman is just posturing in order to speed things along so he can get to the rest of his offseason. Bellinger and the Yankees still need each other more than anyone else does, and something more like 5/$150 million feels right,” Landers wrote.

If the Yankees lose out on Bellinger, it will not be a good look for the organization, as they would miss out on the most versatile player on the market. Bellinger is a client of Scott Boras, so until he gets the money he wants, a deal will not go through.

The New York Yankees have World Series aspirations, but it would be a huge disservice if they fail to capitalize on Bellinger. The former MVP adds too much to the table, making it crucial that a deal gets done.

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