One former MLB GM still views the New York Yankees as frontrunners to re-sign Cody Bellinger.
The calendar is about to flip to January, and soon after that, pitchers and catchers will be reporting to spring training for the start of the 2026 MLB season.
However, the New York Yankees’ top free agent, Cody Bellinger, remains unsigned, leaving a massive hole in the outfield and in New York’s lineup.
There’s been a lot of speculation about what type of contract Bellinger will get from a team. He was clearly an MVP with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but had to reestablish his value with the Chicago Cubs, after which he was traded to New York.
Overall, Bellinger is coming off a strong season, logging an .813 OPS and ranking in the 93rd percentile in outs above average, which should set him up for a large payday this winter. The key question is how many years the contract will be for.
Former MLB general manager Jim Duquette recently said, “I think he’ll get six years,” regarding the length of a contract.
He also still views the Yankees as the leading contender to sign the 30-year-old.
“I still think the Yankees, even though these are the teams that jumped in, I still cannot imagine that the Yankees will not be the final suitor on him. And, you know, he was such a good fit, obviously, hitting behind, mostly hitting behind [Aaron] Judge,” said Duquette.
Aug 11, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn ImagesThe Yankees need to re-sign Bellinger for a couple of reasons.
One, because of how well he fits into the New York lineup and at Yankee Stadium. Out of Bellinger’s 29 home runs, 18 of them came in his home ballpark.
The second is that the Yankees have yet to make a big splash in free agency or trade for a player that truly upgrades the roster. In fact, the Yankees have lost only some of their free agents to their Subway Series rival, the New York Mets.
If the Yankees don’t re-sign Bellinger, whether it’s a one-year or a six-year deal, there’s going to be real questions about the front office’s plan to win a World Series while Aaron Judge is still in his prime.