The New York Yankees’ situation with Cody Bellinger is one of the more interesting in baseball, and reports are now indicating that the Yankees have a certain viewpoint on what he wants
According to Bob Klapisch of NJ.com, the Yankees believe Bellinger’s current contract asks are unrealistic, mainly when it comes to length. Bellinger, per Klapisch, is holding out for a seven-year deal, something the Yankees have no interest in offering.
“Bellinger is currently holding out for a seven-year deal. The Yankees absolutely refuse to go there,” Klapisch wrote. “I’m told by a person familiar with the situation that Bellinger is also seeking $36–$37 million per year,” Klapisch wrote. “The Yankees think that’s crazy, too, although there’s room for negotiation in that regard.
“It’s the years that threaten to doom negotiations.”
The Yankees aren’t completely shutting the door on Bellinger, but the seventh year is a non-starter, and it’s shaping the entire discussion. That’s something Matthew Schmidt and I spoke about during the latest addition of the Yankees Roundtable Podcast, as it doesn’t make much sense to give a player of his status seven years.
From the Yankees’ perspective, that stance makes sense.
Bellinger has had an excellent career, including an MVP season, but his resume also includes some horrible years. He’s rebounded nicely in recent years, but he was also pretty bad in 2024 for the Chicago Cubs.
Long contracts for position players have often aged poorly, another point Schmidt and I looked at when speaking.
There’s some questions about Scott Boras in this situation, and Klapisch had the latest on that side.
“With agent Scott Boras running point, the market for Bellinger was supposed to overheat. Steinbrenner vowed not to overpay. He didn’t want to get burned by Bellinger the way he did by Juan Soto, who left for the Mets on a 15-year, $765 million contract last offseason.
“But free agency hasn’t been as generous to Bellinger as the Yankees originally thought. The Yankees suspect Boras may have overplayed his hand. With the possibility of a long labor dispute looming in 2027, many owners may be reluctant to spend wildly,” he added.