For weeks, the Yankees looked like they were playing the long game with Cody Bellinger - and playing it well. Brian Cashman had his cards on the table: a five-year offer, steady and firm, built on the belief that the market for Bellinger would eventually cool and the former MVP would return to the Bronx on the Yankees’ terms. It was a calculated gamble, and for a while, it looked like it might pay off.
Then Thursday night changed everything.
The Dodgers made a splash, inking Kyle Tucker to a massive deal that sent shockwaves across the league. On the surface, it looked like a National League headline.
But the ripple effect? That landed squarely in New York - and specifically, in the Yankees’ front office.
With Tucker off the board, the Mets suddenly find themselves staring at a wide-open hole in the outfield and a pile of unspent cash. And just like that, the quiet, controlled negotiations between the Yankees and Bellinger have turned into a full-blown New York bidding war.
Steve Cohen’s Not Sitting This One Out
When Steve Cohen swings and misses on a big name, he doesn’t retreat - he reloads. And in this case, Cody Bellinger is the next name up.
The Mets need a star to pair with Juan Soto, and Bellinger fits the mold. He brings Gold Glove-level defense across all three outfield spots, can slot in at first base, and adds a left-handed bat with pop - a Swiss Army knife on a roster that could use one.
Bellinger is coming off a strong 2025 with the Yankees: 29 home runs, 98 RBIs, and an OPS over .800. He was a key piece in the lineup and showed flashes of the All-Star form that made him one of the most exciting players in baseball just a few years ago. Yes, his numbers were noticeably better at Yankee Stadium, thanks in part to that short right-field porch, but Bellinger still proved he can be a difference-maker on both sides of the ball.
For the Mets, who are looking to pivot quickly and make a statement after missing out on Tucker, Bellinger isn’t just a fit - he’s the guy. And that’s where things get tricky for the Yankees.
The Market Just Shifted - And So Did the Math
The Yankees reportedly have a five-year offer on the table, averaging around $31 million per year. It’s a solid deal, especially when you factor in Bellinger’s past injury concerns. But the Mets have been approaching this offseason with a different strategy - shorter deals with eye-popping average annual values.
If Cohen and the Mets decide to come in with, say, a four-year offer at $37 million per season, that changes the equation entirely. Bellinger would get a higher yearly payday and still have the chance to hit the market again in his mid-30s. That’s a compelling pitch for a player who’s already shown he’s willing to bet on himself.
And for the Yankees, it means their clean, calculated approach might not be enough anymore. They were hoping to land Bellinger without getting into a financial arms race. But now, with the Mets lurking - armed with urgency and deep pockets - the cost of keeping Bellinger in pinstripes is going up.
The Stakes in New York Just Got Higher
This isn’t just about Cody Bellinger anymore. This is about two franchises, two boroughs, and two very different approaches to roster building, colliding over one of the most intriguing free agents left on the board.
The Yankees had a plan. They stuck to it. But now they’re staring down a Mets team with a void to fill, a fanbase to excite, and an owner who doesn’t mind rewriting the market to get what he wants.
And suddenly, the poker game is over. The bidding war has begun.