The Yankees are in a familiar spot this offseason-waiting, watching, and hoping that patience pays off. But while other teams are making moves, New York’s front office has mostly stayed quiet, especially when it comes to one of the biggest names still on the market: Cody Bellinger.
Bellinger, who’s coming off a strong bounce-back season, is reportedly holding firm in his demand for a seven-year deal worth at least $32 million annually. That’s a big ask, but not entirely out of line for a player with his pedigree-former MVP, Gold Glove defender, and still just 28 years old.
The Yankees, however, have drawn their own line in the sand: five years, $160 million. No deferrals.
A clean, straightforward offer. But maybe not quite enough.
Now, there’s word that the Yankees are willing to budge-at least a little. According to reports, the team is considering adding opt-outs after Year 2 and Year 3 of the proposed five-year deal.
It’s not the full seven years Bellinger wants, but it could be the kind of flexibility that gets a deal done. Opt-outs give the player control-if Bellinger plays well, he can hit the market again in his early 30s and cash in one more time.
For the Yankees, it’s a way to stay competitive in the bidding without committing to a longer-term risk.
So far, no other team has publicly stepped up with a formal offer, but that doesn’t mean the market is quiet. The Mets are lurking, and the idea of Bellinger swapping pinstripes for Queens isn’t out of the question. There are surely other teams monitoring the situation, waiting to see if the price drops or if the Yankees blink.
Here’s the thing: the Yankees need more than just Bellinger to get back to World Series form. This isn’t a one-player-fixes-everything scenario.
But letting a marquee free agent walk-especially one who fits a clear need-because of contract structure? That’s the kind of move that raises eyebrows.
It speaks to where the organization is right now: cautious, calculated, maybe even a bit hesitant to go all-in.
The Yankees haven’t hoisted a championship banner in over a decade. That’s an eternity in the Bronx. And while they’re no longer the spend-at-all-costs “Evil Empire” of old, missing out on Bellinger over opt-outs and contract length would be another sign that this version of the Yankees is playing a different kind of game-one that might not end with a parade down the Canyon of Heroes.