Oct 5, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during game two of the ALDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images

Cody Bellinger Price Tag Skyrocketing for Yankees

Originally posted on New York Yankees on SI
By Michael Rosenstein | Last updated Oct 22, 2025 9:00 AM ET

Will he stay or will he go? That's what New York Yankees fans want to know about outfielder Cody Bellinger. The 30-year-old is expected to opt out of his three-year, $80 million contract following the 2025 World Series by turning down his $25 million option for 2026.

Both Bellinger and Trent Grisham will be available to the highest bidder, meaning the Yankees' outfield could look significantly different in 2026. However New York is expected to make a hard push for Bellinger, who resurrected his career in the Bronx.

Yankees Will Try To Keep Bellinger

"I think they will probably do what they can to try to keep Bellinger, who fits them well and I think is an exceptional player," the New York Post's Joel Sherman reports. "And as far as what the number is going to be, it's not that long ago that this model franchise that the Yankees fans are now have either anger or jealousy towards the Dodgers non-tendered Cody Bellinger. That's not that long ago. He was so bad after being an MVP for him that they non-tendered him.

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"Last offseason, a Scott Boras client opted into his contract in Cody Bellinger, which meant that he was concerned he could not get a good deal in the marketplace," Sherman added. "A year later, I hear some numbers from people that do not reflect what those two realities, and those two realities certainly will be taken into account by the industry.

How Much Will Bellinger Cost?

"So does that mean he gets five (years) at $110 (million)? Or does that mean, hell he outplayed Kyle Tucker this year, and he gets eight (years) at $240 (million)?" Sherman continued. "This is one of those ones where it's like, 'Yeah I hear you guys.'

"I think the Yankees are going to kind of be in it. And my suspicion is do what the Yankees usually do, which is when they really want a player, they let Scott Boras in this case know, 'We really want your player. If he really wants us, don't let him sign without us getting in at the end,'" Sherman concluded.

The Yankees acquired Bellinger in a December 2024 trade with the Chicago Cubs.

He proceeded to hit 29 home runs and drive in 98 runs while posting a 5.0 WAR in New York, his highest totals since winning the 2019 National League MVP Award with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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