The New York Yankees are officially in the mix to bring back Cody Bellinger, apparently.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that the Yankees submitted a formal offer to free agent outfielder Cody Bellinger within the past week, a development that should be encouraging for frustrated Yankees fans.
Still, it is interesting it has taken this long to get there.
As soon as the 2025 season ended, the Yankees made it clear they were interested in keeping Bellinger in the Bronx.
Bellinger’s 2025 season gave the Yankees plenty to work with. He hit 29 home runs, posted a 125 wRC+, and showed a clear comfort level in Yankee Stadium. His ability to pull the ball with authority played particularly well to right field, where he consistently leveraged the short porch without becoming a one-dimensional hitter. He also provided defensive flexibility, splitting time between the outfield and first base, an attribute the Yankees value as they continue to juggle roster construction.
From the Yankees’ perspective, Bellinger checks multiple boxes.
He offers left-handed power in a lineup that can skew right-heavy, brings postseason experience, and fits the team’s preference for players who can handle positional movement without disrupting defensive structure. His recent performance also eased concerns that followed his uneven 2023 campaign, re-establishing him as a middle-of-the-order option rather than a reclamation project.
Other teams saw Bellinger's bounce-back in 2025 and have jumped into the market. The Yankees will have to balance Bellinger’s market value against longer-term payroll planning.
After months of positioning, the Yankees have taken a concrete step. Whether it leads to a deal remains to be seen, but the pursuit of Cody Bellinger has clearly entered a more serious phase.
