Former league MVP to opt out of contract with the New York Yankees
Photo credit: https://www.foxsports.com/
New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger is expected to opt out of his contract for the 2026 MLB season and become a free agent this coming offseason, ESPN reported on Friday morning.
After the Yankees lost to the Blue Jays in the ALDS, Bellinger will hit the open market after one strong season with the Bronx Bombers.
He'll collect a $5MM buyout, half of which will be paid by the Cubs.
Bellinger has one year remaining on a three-year, $80 million contract that he originally signed with the Chicago Cubs after the 2023 season, which features a $25 million salary for 2026.
The two-time All-Star had a player option in his contract after the first and second seasons of the deal.
New York absorbed $47.5MM of the $52.5MM remaining on Bellinger's contract.
The Cubs paid $2.5MM of his $27.5MM salary this season and are responsible for the other $2.5MM on the buyout.
The Yankees wound up paying $27.5MM for one year, $25MM in salary and the remaining half of the buyout.
That proved a worthwhile investment even if the team had a disappointing exit in this week's Division Series.
Bellinger may be seen as a risk in regards to a long term contract
Bellinger played about as well as could be expected. He hit .272/.334/.480 across 656 plate appearances.
Bellinger hit 29 homers, his best single-season total since he connected on 47 longballs during his 2019 MVP season.
He swiped 13 bases while cutting his strikeout rate to a career-low 13.7% clip.
Bellinger's left-handed swing seemed tailor made for Yankee Stadium. He hit 18 homers with a .302/.365/.544 batting line at home.
His road numbers were essentially league average, as he slashed .241/.301/.414 outside the Bronx.
That could give some teams pause about how the bat will play if he signs elsewhere.
Bellinger didn't find the robust market he wanted when he was a free agent during the 2023-24 offseason, nor was there significant trade interest when the Cubs shopped him last winter.
If there were, the Yankees would've needed to give up more than journeyman righty Cody Poteet to acquire him.
| POLL | ||
12 HOURS AGO | 78 ANSWERS Former league MVP to opt out of contract with the New York Yankees Do you think the Yankees will re-sign Cody Bellinger? | ||
TRENDING NOW
