The New York Mets have made a habit of dipping into their crosstown rival’s talent pool in recent offseasons, and with Luke Weaver joining the fold last week, that number now sits at six former Yankees added under president of baseball operations David Stearns. That’s a notable trend in just three offseasons - and there’s a compelling case for making it seven.
Enter Cody Bellinger.
Fresh off a strong season in the Bronx, Bellinger is one of the more intriguing names still on the free-agent board. He’s a natural fit for the Mets - both in terms of roster need and the kind of versatility Stearns and manager Carlos Mendoza have emphasized since the offseason began. But the real question is whether the Mets are willing to go the distance to land him.
A four-year deal would likely be ideal for the Mets. Bellinger turns 30 next season, and while that’s not old by MLB standards, teams are increasingly wary of committing long-term dollars to players entering their 30s.
The challenge? Bellinger is a Scott Boras client, and Boras rarely settles for “ideal” from a team’s perspective.
Early offseason projections had Bellinger pegged for something in the seven-year, $182 million range - a hefty commitment, but not out of line for a player with his résumé and recent production.
Just look at the market so far: Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso each landed five-year deals, and Bellinger not only outperformed both in terms of bWAR last season (5.1), but he’s also younger. That’s the kind of profile that typically gets paid.
To this point, the Mets have been described by agents and rival executives as “disciplined” - a word that’s come to define their approach this winter. They didn’t overextend to retain Edwin Díaz.
They let Alonso walk. They’ve shown little urgency in chasing top-tier starting pitching.
And maybe they’ll be proven right in the long run. But there’s a time and place for discipline - and a time to flex the financial muscle that comes with being a $300 million payroll team in the nation’s biggest market.
This might be one of those times.
The current free-agent class has been widely described as underwhelming, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t valuable pieces available - especially for a team like the Mets that still has multiple holes to fill. Bellinger is one of the few available players who checks a lot of boxes.
Offensively, he brings pop and positional flexibility. He hit 29 home runs last season with a .813 OPS and added 13 stolen bases.
He spent most of the year hitting behind Aaron Judge in the Yankees’ lineup - a role he could reprise behind Juan Soto in Queens. And while Jorge Polanco, signed earlier this offseason for two years and $40 million, is a solid addition, he’s not a one-for-one replacement for Alonso’s offensive production.
The Mets need more firepower, and Bellinger brings that.
Defensively, he might be an even better fit. Bellinger posted strong advanced metrics in the outfield, particularly in left field, where he led the American League in outs above average.
That’s a spot of need for the Mets after trading Brandon Nimmo. But Bellinger’s value extends beyond just one position - he can also handle center field and first base, giving the Mets flexibility and depth across the diamond.
That kind of versatility fits perfectly with the Mets’ offseason mantra of “run prevention.” Yes, he’s a left-handed bat, and the lineup already leans that way.
But Polanco’s switch-hitting ability helps balance things out, and Bellinger’s splits don’t raise any red flags - he actually posted a 1.016 OPS against lefties last season and has been fairly neutral over the course of his career. The Mets could still add a right-handed bat to round things out, but Bellinger wouldn’t create a problem there.
One of the Mets’ biggest issues last season was a lack of two-way players. As one National League scout put it, “their good hitters can’t field, and their good fielders can’t hit.”
Bellinger helps solve that problem. He’s not just a bat - he’s a complete player who contributes on both sides of the ball.
Of course, the Mets could look elsewhere. A trade could still be in play.
And even if they do pursue Bellinger, there’s no guarantee they land him - the Yankees and Dodgers are both logical suitors. But this is the kind of move that makes sense for where the Mets are right now.
Yes, there are valid concerns about Bellinger’s long-term outlook. He was non-tendered by the Dodgers in 2022 and only recently opted into a contract for the 2025 season.
But his last three years have been steady - a 125 OPS+ over that span - and more importantly, he’s shown he can handle the New York spotlight. That’s not a small thing.
Stearns has already leaned into familiarity by bringing in several former Yankees and hiring Mendoza, the Yankees’ former bench coach. Bellinger fits that mold - a player with proven success in New York who can help anchor a lineup and solidify the defense.
Last week, Mets owner Steve Cohen posted on X, “I can’t imagine our payroll to be lower than last year. It’s always hard to predict, but that would be my best guess.” That’s not exactly a declaration of open spending, but it’s a pretty clear indication that the Mets aren’t slamming the brakes on their budget, either.
In truth, the Mets haven’t been cheap - they’ve just been more selective. Signing Devin Williams to a three-year, $51 million deal (with deferred money) and bringing in Polanco are examples of smart, targeted spending.
That’s the kind of approach Stearns honed in Milwaukee, where he had to make every dollar count. But New York isn’t Milwaukee.
Sometimes, the better move isn’t the better deal - it’s just the better player.
And right now, Cody Bellinger might be that player.