Yankees GM Sends Cody Bellinger Message Amid MLB Free Agency

"We're very interested in bringing him back," he said. "Obviously now that he's a free agent, he's gonna have a lot of choices, 'cause he can do a lot of different things. He was a terrific addition for us last year, played a big role in the amount of success we wound up having. We'd certainly love to have him come back to us."

"Where discussions with us [are] as well as with others, because [Bellinger's agent] Scott Boras is out having the conversations as he always would, remain to be seen," he said. "We'd be better served if we could retain him, but if not, we'll have to look at alternative ... But it's pretty early in the process ..."

Yankees Could Ink Deal With Cody Bellinger or Kyle Tucker

While re-signing Bellinger to create a long-term outfield partnership with superstar Aaron Judge would be a productive move for New York, it could also pivot to fellow free agent Kyle Tucker. The four-time All-Star slashed .266/.377/.464 with 22 homers and 73 RBIs over 136 games for the Chicago Cubs in 2025, and he could also utilize Yankee Stadium's short porch in right field from the left side of the plate just like Bellinger.

Tucker is a year and a half younger, but he also might be more expensive. The two-time Silver Slugger's market value is 10 years, $401.7 million ($40.2 million average annual salary), per Spotrac.

Another option is to avoid both players and focus on Trent Grisham, for whom the Yankees extended a qualifying offer (one year, $22.05 million) on Thursday. The 29-year-old's market value if he declines that offer is just four years, $48.2 million ($12.1 million average annual salary).

While that path is the cheapest, it's also the riskiest. Grisham broke out with an .811 OPS as well as 34 homers and 74 RBIs over 143 games in 2025, but he had a sub-.200 batting average in each of his previous three seasons and never previously had more than 17 homers in a year across his career.

The decision will come down to how much money New York wants to spend to secure long-term outfield help.