The New York Yankees made another big move on Tuesday as they tried to revamp their roster following the exit of superstar slugger Juan Soto. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Yankees acquired 2019 NL MVP Cody Bellinger in a trade with the Chicago Cubs.
The Yankees will send right-hand pitcher Cody Poteet to the Cubs while receiving $5 million in cash and Bellinger in exchange. Bellinger has one year left on his contract, which pays him $27.5 million in 2025, alongside a $25 million player option for 2026.
Passan adds that the $2.5 million of the $5 million in cash the Yankees received will be used for Bellinger’s salary for next season. The remaining $2.5 million will go towards Bellinger’s $5 million buyout if he rejects the 2026 or his salary if he accepts it.
Bellinger received his MLB debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017 and had an impressive start to his career in the majors. He earned an All-Star nod in his rookie year and followed that up with an NL MVP honors in 2019 and a World Series championship in 2020.
However, Bellinger experienced a drop in performances coupled with a string of injuries in 2021 and 2022, prompting the Dodgers to let him walk in free agency. He ended up signing a one-year deal with the Cubs for the 2023 campaign and enjoyed a bounce-back campaign that helped him land a three-year, $80 million deal.
In 2024, Bellinger once again had an underwhelming year, batting .266 with 18 home runs and 78 RBIs. The Cubs then decided to shop him around in an effort to free up some payroll and look for reinforcements elsewhere.
While there are obvious concerns about Bellinger’s ability to be a consistent performer, the Yankees were ready to roll the dice on him. His versatility might prove crucial if the team experiences a rough stretch with injuries while he still remains an above-average defender.
