"The Yankees made a formal contract offer to Cody Bellinger this week, reports Jon Heyman of The New York Post. Specifics of the proposal aren't known. General manager Brian Cashman has made no secret of the team's desire to keep Bellinger. The former MVP's first year in the Bronx was excellent. He hit .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs, his most in a season since 2019. Bellinger's bat played very well at Yankee Stadium, where he put up a .302/.365/.544 line with 18 longballs."
"New York acquired Bellinger from the Cubs last winter in what amounted to a salary dump. They parted with journeyman righty Cody Poteet while assuming all but $5MM of the remaining two years and $52.5MM on Bellinger's contract. As he ended up opting out, the Yankees paid $27.5MM for that excellent year. It might require a five- or six-year commitment to bring him back as he enters his age-30 season."
"The Yankees have had a quiet first couple months of the offseason. Their only move of significance was issuing the qualifying offer to Trent Grisham. He surprisingly accepted and is back in center field on a one-year deal at $22.025MM. Bellinger was ineligible to receive the QO after getting one from the Cubs over the 2023-24 offseason. Grisham's salary accounts for the majority of the $29.025MM they've spent in free agency so far."
The Yankees made a formal contract offer to Cody Bellinger while specifics of the proposal remain undisclosed. Brian Cashman wants to keep Bellinger after his strong first Bronx season, when he hit .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs and a .302/.365/.544 line at Yankee Stadium. New York acquired him from the Cubs last winter in a salary-dump trade, assuming most of his remaining contract and ultimately paying $27.5MM after his opt-out. The offseason has been quiet beyond Trent Grisham's qualifying-offer return and a few one-year re-signings. The Yankees could pursue other top free-agent hitters if Bellinger departs.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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