Top Landing Spots for Free Agent Cody Bellinger

New York Yankees

Cody Bellinger in a Yankees uniform this past season just worked perfectly, and he certainly put on a show in his contract year.

While Bellinger will decline his $25 million player option for the 2026 season with the Yanks, it’s definitely within the realm of possibility that he could reunite with them on a longer-term deal in free agency. The Yankees fell short of their postseason goals in 2025 by losing to the Blue Jays in the ALDS, but they have the talent to make it back there stronger.

Offensively, Yankee Stadium’s dimensions excellently align with Bellinger’s hitting strengths, as the short porch in right field gave him plenty to do with his sweet lefty swing. He has a career slashline of .302/.367/.545 in Yankee Stadium, and he’s shown an ability to consistently find the gap for extra-base hits.

It would make too much sense for the Evil Empire to seek a reunion with Bellinger, as they’re already at risk of additionally losing outfielder Trent Grisham (34 HR, 3.2 fWAR), veteran hitter Paul Goldschmidt, and former All-Star reliever Devin Williams, just to name a few. The Yankees are going to look very different next season, and it’d be in their best interest to at least keep Bellinger.

They’re always very active in free agency and are known for going after the top players every offseason, so why wouldn’t they throw some cash at Bellinger? It’ll cost them a pretty penny, but the Yankees have a good shot at bringing him back to the Bronx.

Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies are at risk of losing the services of Kyle Schwarber (UFA), Max Kepler (UFA), and Harrison Bader ($10 million mutual option) this offseason and would love to add a name like Bellinger to their already potent offense. Brandon Marsh is capable of playing a serviceable left or center field, leaving the other to Bellinger if the Phillies are able to bring him on board.

Marsh’s sprint speed and outfield range are good, but Bellinger’s are better – the starting CF role would likely be in Cody’s hands. Nick Castellanos (as of now) being Philly’s starting right fielder also adds plenty more reason for the Phillies to go after a premier outfielder with a strong glove.

The Phillies are also seeing a lot of cash come off their books this offseason from All-Star names like Schwarber, catcher J.T. Realmuto, and starter Ranger Suárez, so it would make sense for them to use some of their resources on a player like Bellinger.

However, it will likely be a higher priority for POBO David Dombrowski to try to bring back the guys they might lose before looking at Bellinger.

The Phillies had a good season in 2025, but they will look to improve next year, because they didn’t reach their goal of a World Series.

Chicago Cubs

A reunion on the North Side of Chicago would be a spectacular fit for both Bellinger and the Cubs, as Chicago is at risk of losing star right fielder Kyle Tucker to free agency. Tucker will be seeking a massive deal coming off a strong season. The Cubs could slot Bellinger into that right field role.

Bellinger played two seasons with the Cubs (2023-24) and posted a combined slashline of .286/.340/.475, including a 2023 season that really rejuvenated his career. Coming off a three-year stretch of .648 OPS baseball, Bellinger signed a deal to come to the Cubs and had his best season since winning the 2019 NL MVP.

With Bellinger manning the right field corner in Wrigley Field, the Cubs would have an outfield consisting of Ian Happ in left field (3x Gold Glover), Pete Crow-Armstrong in center field (MLB-leading 24 OAA, 99th-percentile FRV in 202) and Bellinger in right field (91st-percentile FRV in 2025).

It would just make too much sense for the Cubs to seriously pursue such a player in the wake of likely losing the bat of Tucker from their lineup. Chicago lost a winner-takes-all Game 5 in the NLDS this year against the Milwaukee Brewers, and Bellinger might be the guy who can push them over the line.

New York Mets

It wouldn’t be a free agency prediction post without mentioning Steve Cohen and the New York Mets, now would it?

The Mets have been involved on every high-profile free agent under the sun since Cohen took over ownership of the team in 2020. Their offense is losing the strong lineup presence of Pete Alonso, as well as Cedric Mullins and Starling Marte, so Bellinger will certainly be on their watchlist.

Slotting into center field between Brandon Nimmo and Juan Soto, Bellinger would give the Mets one of the most potent outfields in all of baseball and yet another strong lefty bat in the heart of their order.

The Mets somehow managed to miss out on the playoffs this season after signing Soto to the largest contract in MLB history, but adding another superstar talent could be just what they need.

It would be meaningless to imply that the Mets couldn’t benefit from the presence of Bellinger and his five-tool mix, but it’s worth mentioning that the whole team combined for a .236/.311/.385 triple-slash against left-handed pitching. Yet, that is something Bellinger does better than nearly any other lefty hitter. So yes, they do need a player like him, and it wouldn’t be a meaningless addition for the sake of spending money.

He slashed .353/.415/.601 against LHP in 2025 for the Yankees. Among left-handed hitters with at least 50 games played this season, his .353 batting average led the pack by a wide margin, as second-place Brice Turang of the Brewers finished with a .305 average against LHP.

Bellinger could seriously benefit a lefty-heavy Mets lineup that struggled against southpaws in 2025.

San Francisco Giants

The Giants are on the prowl for their first true lefty slugger since Barry Bonds left in 2007. In 2025, they finally saw their first 30-home run season since Bonds in ’04, thanks to last year’s free agent acquisition, righty-batting shortstop Willy Adames.

Oracle Park is a cavernous ballpark that definitely serves left-handed hitters a tough hand at the plate, but Triples Alley in right-center field gives a hitter like Bellinger a good variety of options offensively.

Bellinger’s speed could easily allow him to take extra bases on outfielders in Oracle Park’s vast confines, and he could find himself benefiting from the large right field wall. The 2025 Giants were full of fresh faces on both sides of the baseball, and an addition of Bellinger could solidify a competitive window in the Bay Area.

Lastly, the Giants need strong defense in their outfield because of its large dimensions. On one hand, this makes it a pitcher’s park and harder to hit home runs in, but at the same time, it’s one of the easiest parks to hit doubles and triples in, according to Baseball Savant’s Park Factor metrics.

Bellinger’s great range in the outfield will absolutely be an asset if the Giants want to continue to limit run scoring in Oracle Park.