Cody Bellinger-Yankees News Emerge Amid MLB Free Agency

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dibyendu Mondal | Last updated Nov 13, 2025 8:15 AM ET

Cody Bellinger hit .272 with 29 homers and 98 RBIs (.813 OPS) this season when the New York Yankees went 94–68 and lost a four-game ALDS to the Toronto Blue Jays in October's postseason series.

Bellinger, 30, formally opted out of the final year of his three-year, $80 million deal and elected the $5 million buyout, making him a top-tier position-player free agent this winter. The opt-out follows his trade to New York last December after signing with the Chicago Cubs in 2024.

A ninth-year major-league veteran who debuted in 2017, Bellinger’s rebound campaign in New York, his most games played since 2019, pushed him back into the spotlight and into a crowded market that includes elite bats such as another former Cub in Kyle Tucker.

Multiple teams have expressed interest in Bellinger, but per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Yankees have nothing to worry about. "Bellinger opted out of the final $25 million in his contract, and would like to return to the Yankees, where the interest is mutual," he wrote Wednesday.

Bellinger’s agent, Scott Boras, used the GM meetings to aggressively market his client, calling him “the only five-tool free-agent outfielder” and stressing Bellinger’s positional versatility and track record with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago and New York.

The Yankees extended a one-year, $22 million qualifying offer to Trent Grisham, another New York outfielder who hit 34 home runs and drove in 74 runs while turning in an OPS of .812 last season. Grisham has until Nov. 18 to decide whether he will accept the offer or become a free agent.

Yankees have offered Trent Grisham the one-year, $22 million qualifying offer pic.twitter.com/wt1o612Lzb
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) November 6, 2025

"I think the Yankees are looking to improve,’’ Boras said when asked whether Grisham's decision could affect Bellinger's return, "not subtract. So since Grisham and Bellinger were both on the team in that year…[no]."

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Wednesday the club is "very interested" in re-signing Bellinger and “would love to have him come back to us,” stressing the team could pursue multiple outfield targets depending on how free agency unfolds.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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