The New York Yankees are not going after the top names in free agency so far this winter. They've been linked to top names, but haven't made much progress.
Of the possible additions, outfielder Cody Bellinger is the most obvious fit. Returning to the Yankees makes a lot of sense for Bellinger, and it is one possible scenario this winter.
But an update from ESPN's Buster Olney doesn't bode well for the Yankees' chances. Bellinger and the Yankees are reportedly far apart in contract talks, in a piece of bad news for the two sides linking up this winter.
Yankees, Bellinger far apart in contract talks
"He is coming off an excellent season," Olney writes, "and the New York Yankees want to retain him, but there is apparently a sizable gap between what his side wants and what the team is willing to pay."
Seeing Bellinger walk would be a disaster for the Yankees, but based on this report, such a future might be in play. The Yankees and Bellinger aren't close to a deal.
While it's hardly a surprise that the Yankees, clearly trying to keep their spending down, aren't aggressively trying to re-sign Bellinger, it's a worrying report that there's such a sizable gap in talks.
Olney had a follow-up mention that it would be difficult for Bellinger and agent Scott Boras to accept an offer lower than the $27.5 million he got last season.
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This mention is a further concern, as it seemingly indicates that the Yankees' offer for Bellinger is below that AAV number from a year ago.
If the two sides are this far apart, Bellinger finding a new team this winter, potentially even the New York Mets, is well within the realm of possibility.
Despite the Yankees needing Bellinger back, they could decide to head into 2026 with Spencer Jones and Jasson Dominguez in the outfield as their Bellinger replacements.
This update on Bellinger's free agency is not a good one for the Yankees, as a future with Bellinger on a new team is possible with the sizable gap in contract talks.
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