Another potential hindrance for Bellinger, Yanks
The Yankees are widely considered one of the strongest contenders for Bellinger, but there’s one major reason they could be a worse fit than previously thought. As noted by MLB Network insider Jon Heyman in the New York Post on Thursday, New York’s preference for players with above-average hard-hit rates could be a problem for Bellinger, whose 31.4% hard-hit rate in 2023 ranked in the 10th percentile among qualifying hitters.
Further complicating their negotiations is the likely availability of Juan Soto, whom the Yankees are expected to be “all over” should the Padres make him available. Soto would also be more in line with the Yankees’ organizational philosophy, having posted the third-highest hard-hit rate among qualifiers in 2023.
Nov. 16: Where do Cubs stand on Ohtani, Bellinger?
The Cubs were among the finalists for Shohei Ohtani when he came over from Japan in 2017, but the lack of the designated hitter spot in the National League at the time worked against Chicago, with Ohtani wanting to hit and pitch.
Now, the Cubs have another shot to land him, and ESPN’s Jesse Rogers reports that they intend to pursue the opportunity.
Chicago could also look to re-sign its own star free agent, Bellinger, but Rogers considers it unlikely that the Cubs will end up with both players.
Rogers spoke with multiple sources who said they thought the Cubs are more likely to sign Ohtani than bring back Bellinger, as the club has no intention to get into a bidding war for the outfielder with suitors such as the Yankees, Giants and Blue Jays.
“I think Bellinger is as good as gone,” one source familiar with the situation told Rogers at the beginning of the offseason.
Nov. 15: Bellinger race could come down to Yanks, Cubs, Giants
While the markets for other top free agents are somewhat hazier at this point in the offseason, Bellinger’s market is “a little more defined,” with three teams leading the race, according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman.
“Cubs, Yankees, Giants, if it’s somebody else, it will be a surprise,” Heyman said Wednesday.
While Heyman said last week that he thought the race for Bellinger would ultimately come down to the Yankees and Cubs, he doesn’t think the Giants can be ruled out as they explore a number of possibilities.
“We’re going to hear a lot about the Giants. They certainly want to improve off of the last couple of seasons and he fits. They say they want to go up the middle, although they are looking at some other players, they want to do up the middle. And Cody Bellinger, great center fielder, also a great first baseman, gives a little versatility.”
Bellinger had a bounceback season on a one-year deal with the Cubs after being non-tendered by the Dodgers last offseason. The 28-year-old finished with a .307 average, 26 homers, 97 RBIs, 20 steals and an .881 OPS over 130 games, and now he gets to test free agency again having improved his stock.
Nov. 13: Yankees could go down to the wire in Bellinger bidding
The Yankees are expected to pursue Bellinger this offseason, and MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi gets the sense the club is serious about landing him.
“I believe the Yankees will be in there until the very end on Bellinger this offseason,” Morosi said Monday.
The Bronx Bombers also have been linked to Padres outfielder Juan Soto, but Morosi thinks Bellinger is more of a priority. With Soto, there are not only questions about what type of package it would take to acquire him — and if the Padres are even seriously interested in trading him — but also whether New York would be able to sign him to an extension. Soto is set to become a free agent a year from now.
“I would say Bellinger [is the higher priority], because with Bellinger right now it is a free-agent contract to where if you sign him, he’s yours presumably for the long term,” Morosi said. “Whereas Soto, it’s one year and then you hope to find a way to get him extended.”
Nov. 7: Are the Giants a possible destination for Bellinger?
As they continue their search for a superstar to build around after missing out on Aaron Judge a year ago, the Giants are expected to be in the mix for Shohei Ohtani this offseason.
However, with many viewing the rival Dodgers as the favorites to sign Ohtani, San Francisco needs to have a backup plan in place, and a certain former Los Angeles star could fit the bill.
ESPN’s Buster Olney and Jeff Passan both named the Giants as their pick for Bellinger’s landing spot in free agency.
“The Giants want a star and are prepared to go above and beyond to make that happen, and they could sell Bellinger to their fans as a headliner, a former MVP who once played for their division rival,” Olney writes.
Bellinger to the Giants was also the choice made by two of the three writers who participated in MLB Trade Rumors’ annual story ranking the Top 50 free agents and offering up predictions for their destinations and contracts.
Bellinger has also been linked to the Yankees, but Olney thinks that New York is more likely to dole out a big contract for a pitcher (perhaps Yoshinobu Yamamoto?) this offseason while making a shorter-term investment in a left-handed hitter.
Nov. 7: Yanks, Bellinger a possible fit?
MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported in the New York Post that the Yankees are “investigating the top of the hitting market.” Heyman lists Cody Bellinger, Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto as possibilities for the Yankees while reporting that Bellinger seems like the most likely match. More >
Nov. 5: These AL clubs could have interest in Bellinger
Following a tremendous bounceback season in Chicago, Cody Bellinger may be the best position player available in free agency this offseason. The 28-year-old unsurprisingly declined his mutual option with the Cubs on Friday. That doesn’t rule out a possible return to Chicago’s North Side, but the Cubs should face plenty of competition for Bellinger’s services.
Writing for The Athletic (subscription required), Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney note that the Yankees could be involved in the bidding after they had interest in Bellinger leading up to the Trade Deadline. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand and The Athletic’s Jim Bowden (subscription required) both list the Yanks as a possible fit for the slugger.
Another AL East team can’t be ignored in the Bellinger sweepstakes: the Red Sox. Boston’s new chief baseball officer, Craig Breslow, came from the Cubs’ front office and “could envision [Bellinger] as a foundational player at Fenway Park,” per Sharma and Mooney. They add that the Cubs will be on the “short list” for Bellinger, but there is only so far they will financially go. If Bellinger and agent Scott Boras are presented with a contract similar to what another Boras client, Xander Bogaerts, received as a free agent last year, then “Bellinger has played his last game in a Cubs uniform,” according to Sharma and Mooney.
