The Cody Bellinger sweepstakes just took a sharp turn - and the New York Yankees might be the ones smiling.
With the Mets pulling off a blockbuster trade for center fielder Luis Robert Jr. on Tuesday night, one of the Yankees' biggest rivals for Bellinger’s services may have just stepped out of the race. The Mets were widely seen as a top contender if Bellinger chose to leave the Bronx, and center field was the most obvious fit for him in Queens. But with Robert now in place, that spot is spoken for.
This doesn’t officially take the Mets out of the running - far from it. If there’s one thing we know about Steve Cohen’s front office, it’s that they’re not shy about making bold moves, and poaching Bellinger from the Yankees would be a statement. But let’s be real: the odds of Bellinger landing in Queens just dropped.
As of Tuesday, reports had up to four teams still in the mix for Bellinger. The Yankees and Mets were two of them, with the Toronto Blue Jays believed to be the third. The fourth team remains a mystery for now, but what’s clear is that the Yankees' position just got a little stronger.
New York has been interested in bringing Bellinger back all along, but there’s been no indication they’re willing to go beyond their current offer - reportedly a five-year deal in the $155-160 million range. That number hasn’t moved, and with the Mets potentially out of the picture, Bellinger’s leverage may have taken a hit.
From the Yankees’ perspective, this could be a turning point. With fewer suitors in play, they might not need to up the ante. And for Bellinger, the decision becomes more about fit, comfort, and long-term vision than pure market pressure.
So as New York baseball fans digest the Luis Robert news, the spotlight now shifts back to Bellinger. Where he lands will shape not just the Yankees’ outfield - but the balance of power in the American League. The waiting game continues, but the board just tilted in the Bronx’s favor.