Free agent outfielder played for New York Yankees last season, but he's still without a team for this season. Might Bellinger end up playing at Oracle Park for the Giants?
(Update: Cody Bellinger re-signed with the New York Yankees on Wednesday, according to ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan and Jon Heyman of the New York Post.)
While the San Francisco Giants are preparing to get to spring training in Scottsdale, Ariz., the ballclub is still looking to improve its roster.
One player still on the free agent market is outfielder Cody Bellinger, who played last season for the New York Yankees. There has been some chatter that Bellinger might be interested in returning to the Yankees.
Well, Bellinger decided that a return to the Bronx was what he wanted. On Wednesday, according to MLB insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Bellinger signed a five-year contract worth $162.5 million to go back and wear Yankees pinstripes.
Where does this leave the Giants, though? San Francisco, with president of baseball operations Buster Posey looking to get more help in the outfield, is one of three teams that have been among discussions.
Brendan Kuty, in an article about Bellinger for The Athletic, recalled what Scott Boras, the sports super-agent who represents Bellinger, indicated at the Winter Meetings last December in Orlando, Fla.
"At the Winter Meetings, Boras also suggested the San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Angels had interest in Bellinger, but detailed reports linking them to him have been scant," Kuty wrote.
What type of deal, though, is Bellinger looking for at this point? The MLB world has taken note of the Los Angeles Dodgers signing free-agent outfielder Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240 million contract.
Kuty reported that there haven't been any new formal offers directed toward Bellinger. But the Yankees reportedly put a deal nearing $160 million over five years on the table. But The Athletic also reported that Bellinger could get opt-outs from the Yankees in the second and third years of that proposed contract.
Additionally, New York could potentially include a signing bonus, according to longtime MLB insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
That's an awful lot of money that the Yankees are throwing down in Bellinger's direction.
What in the world could the Giants offer? Could San Francisco even get near that type of deal?
The Giants could really use another veteran bat, along with a veteran presence, in the outfield. According to FanGraphs, the Giants' depth chart and potential Opening Day lineup has Jung Hoo Lee, Heliot Ramos, and Luis Matos in the outfield. Christian Koss and Drew Gilbert could relieve one of them coming off the bench.
While that might be a good outfield rotation, no one would not believe that adding Bellinger would be a major upgrade out there.
In addition, Bellinger has played some first base in his MLB career should Giants manager Tony Vitello want him over there.
Bellinger, in the end, decided to forego thinking about a team like the Giants and return to the Yankees.
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