With Kyle Tucker's free agent decision expected as early as Thursday, the New York Yankees may be running out of time to reach an agreement with Cody Bellinger.
Bellinger and his agent, Scott Boras, are reportedly pushing for a seven-year contract. Multiple reports indicate the Yankees are unwilling to go further than a five-year pact. The former NL MVP's market could expand soon if the two sides are unable to find common ground.
"Once Tucker is off the board, teams who didn't get him might step up their pursuits of Cody Bellinger," The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal said on an episode of "Foul Territory" on Thursday.
Rosenthal listed the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, and Toronto Blue Jays as teams recognized as finalists for Tucker that could pivot to Bellinger.
Yankees still viewed as the favorites for Bellinger
Despite ongoing negotiations, Rosenthal says the most likely outcome for Bellinger is a return to the Yankees.
"The assumption has been, and it's still the right call, that the Yankees will re-sign Bellinger," Rosenthal added. If Bellinger signs elsewhere, could the Yankees pivot to Tucker?
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported on Monday that the Yankees are not displaying an aggressive interest in Tucker, a two-time World Series champion who has a career.865 OPS. The left-handed hitter would undoubtedly be more expensive to obtain than Bellinger.
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