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Jorge Castillo
The New York Yankees and outfielder Cody Bellinger have reached an agreement on a five-year, $162.5 million contract, sources informed ESPN’s Jeff Passan on Wednesday, resolving a standoff both parties wished to end throughout the offseason.
The contract includes opt-outs after the second and third seasons, a $20 million signing bonus, and a full no-trade clause, sources indicated.
Bellinger is expected to return as the Yankees’ primary left fielder — he played there (59 games) more than any other position last season — and will likely push Jasson Dominguez out of a regular spot.
While Yankees officials publicly expressed confidence in former top prospect Dominguez as their everyday left fielder despite notable defensive issues and difficulties hitting right-handed pitchers in his rookie season, retaining Bellinger had been a priority since he opted out of a $25 million player option for 2026 and entered free agency after an impressive season in New York.
Bellinger, batting .272 with 29 home runs and an .813 OPS in 152 games, thrived while hitting behind Aaron Judge for most of the season. He excelled against left-handed pitching, leading all left-handed batters in on-base percentage (.415) and slugging percentage (.601).
As one of the league’s top defenders, Bellinger recorded seven outs above average and eight defensive runs saved across three outfield positions and first base. His 4.9 fWAR ranked him 18th in the majors, tied with National League MVP runner-up Kyle Schwarber, and was second only to his career-best 7.8 fWAR during his 2019 MVP season.
With agent Scott Boras representing him, Bellinger aimed for a seven-year contract as he approached his age-30 season. He held firm on this request in recent weeks, while the Yankees remained steadfast with their five-year offer.
This agreement marks the largest payday of Bellinger’s major league career, a nine-year journey through the nation’s three largest markets, filled with significant highs and lows.
He began his major league career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, quickly achieving success, winning the 2017 National League Rookie of the Year Award, and later being named the NL MVP in 2019.
yet, his career faced challenges after injuring his shoulder while celebrating a home run during the 2020 World Series. Following surgery to repair his right shoulder labrum and dealing with various injuries, Bellinger struggled, batting .203 with a .648 OPS and 2.1 fWAR over 295 games across three seasons.
This performance led the Dodgers to not tender him a contract post-2022, three years removed from his impressive 47 home runs and 1.035 OPS that earned him MVP honors in a tight contest against Christian Yelich.
Bellinger signed a one-year, $17.5 million guaranteed contract with the Chicago Cubs soon after. Healthy again, he rebounded with a .307 average, 26 home runs, and an .881 OPS, earning a spot in the top 10 of NL MVP voting. yet, a long-term deal did not materialize, leading him to re-sign with the Cubs on a three-year, $80 million contract with opt-out options after the first and second years.
Last December, following a decline in 2024, the Cubs traded him to the Yankees for right-hander Cody Poteet. The Cubs sought salary relief after acquiring Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros, while the Yankees aimed to secure an outfielder in response to their pivot away from Juan Soto.
Bellinger subsequently emerged as the Yankees’ second-most valuable player, as measured by fWAR, showcasing an all-around skill set that impressed the organization and justified their investment.
He is the fifth player the Yankees have re-signed this offseason, joining outfielder Trent Grisham, left-hander Ryan Yarbrough, utility player Amed Rosario, and right-hander Paul Blackburn.
