Aug 4, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; New York Yankees center fielder Cody Bellinger (35) during the game between the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Key Details in Cody Bellinger’s Yankees Contract

Originally posted on New York Yankees on SI
By Delilah Bourque | Last updated Jan 21, 2026 2:21 PM ET

The New York Yankees have finally done what they set out to do this offseason and re-signed Cody Bellinger to a new contract.

The Pinstripes originally received Bellinger in a trade with his former team, the Chicago Cubs. His old contract, signed in early 2024 for three years at $80 million, would have left him in New York for one more year. However, after a stellar first season with the Yankees, Bellinger opted for free agency.

Though Bellinger's team won't be changing, his bank account certainly will be. Here are the full details of his new contract with the Yankees, as reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan and Jorge Castillo.

Money and Duration

Bellinger's contract gets him five years and $162.5 million, for an average annual value of $30.5 million. That's around $5 million more per year than his Cubs contract, which worked out to be around $26.7 million AAV.

John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

In addition to his yearly salary, Bellinger will receive a $20 million signing bonus. According to insider Mark Feinsand, none of the money will be deferred, a common strategy employed by teams like the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers to sign massive contracts to be paid out over decades. Instead, Bellinger will get all $30.5 million annually, and likely will have the opportunity to make bonuses.

Additional Clauses

In addition to a high AAV, Bellinger's contract includes some future leverage for the 2019 NL MVP. After the 2027 and 2028 seasons, Bellinger can choose to opt out of his contract and pursue free agency, as he did this years.

There is also a full no-trade clause in Bellinger's contract, meaning he would have to waive said clause if the Yankees wish to deal him to another team. That's not out of the realm of possibility, per se, but it gives Bellinger a say in trade negotiations.

Yankees Get Power, but Inconsistency in Cody Bellinger

Retaining Bellinger is the biggest news of the Yankees offseason thus far. There's a big upside for the team, who was looking to secure more power in the outfield after Trent Grisham accepted a one-year, $22 million qualifying offer.

Bellinger hit 29 homers and slashed .272/ .334/ .480 for a OPS of .814 with the Yankees in 2025. He hit 18 of those home runs at home (per Stat Muse), with many of them flying over the right field wall. Clearly, Bellinger's play takes advantage of the Yankees' short porch, and he'll ideally have another strong year.

However, Bellinger has a history of inconsistency. While he only played 95 games with the Cubs in 2021, he hit just .165 with 10 homers. In 2022, when he played 144 games, he still only hit .210. These stats lead the Cubs to trade him. Hopefully, the Yankees won't want to do the same.

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