Yankees Get Bad Cody Bellinger Contract News

The New York Yankees knew they needed a plan B when Juan Soto decided to sign with their crosstown rivals, the New York Mets: eter Chicago Cubs veteran Cody Bellinger. The outfielder has become a staple of New York's 2025 team, slashing some of the best numbers of his career (.270/ .325/ .491). However, a problem is looming over Bellinger's standout performance for the Yankees: his impending free agency.

While Bellinger himself has been coy about whether or not he'll opt out of the final year of his three-year, $80-million contract, CBS sports writer Mike Axisa predicted Bellinger will opt-out of his contract and pursue free agency.

"The Cubs will kick in $2.5 million either to the player option salary or the buyout, not that it makes a difference to Bellinger. He's getting his $25 million salary or $5 million buyout either way," he wrote. "Bellinger had an opt out last offseason as well, but declined to use it, and stuck with his $27.5 million salary for 2025. A few weeks later, Chicago traded him to the Yankees."

"This is now Bellinger's third straight strong season though, ostensibly putting him in better position to cash in," Axisa continued. "Those awful 2021-22 seasons are far in the rear-view mirror and he's shown he can be a productive hitter despite not lighting up Statcast with big exit velocities. If Bellinger can't land a long-term contract this offseason, he likely never will."