MVPs Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger share smiles, salutes, and spots in the Yankees lineup after the latter finally ended his lengthy free agency. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
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Not the Mets. Not the Dodgers. Not the Blue Jays. Not even the Phillies.
Cody Bellinger has decided to stay put, signing a new five-year, $162.5 million extension to stay in Yankee pinstripes.
The last remaining big hitter in the current free agent market, Bellinger spent months sifting through various teams and offers – even convincing the Yankee hierarchy that he wouldn’t be coming back for 2026.
Boras Client
A client of notoriously-tough agent Scott Boras, Bellinger had been seeking a seven-year deal with a higher annual average. Instead, he settled for less – but got the provisos of opt-outs after the second and third years of the contract.
The pact contains a no-trade clause as well as a $20 million signing bonus.
He’ll get $32.5 million in each of his first two years, then $25.8 million in each of the two years that follow, and finally $25.9 million in 2030, according to reporting by Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY and Jeff Passan of ESPN.
There’s even a special clause designed to cover the real possibility of a prolonged work stoppage in 2027; the Basic Agreement between owners and players expires on Dec. 1, 2026 and a lockout looms over the issues of a salary cap, salary floor, and changes to the arbitration and free-agent systems.
Lockout Protection
If that happens, the opt-outs in Bellinger’s contract are delayed by a year.
Bellinger’s new deal does not include deferred dollars.
Cody Bellinger has lots to smile about after signing a lucrative five-year contract to stay with the New York Yankees. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
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Before signing up for another tour in the Bronx, where his left-handed power makes a perfect baseball marriage with the short right-field dimensions of Yankee Stadium, Bellinger was coveted by the Dodgers, Cubs, Phillies, Blue Jays, and crosstown Mets – who had hoped to repeat last winter’s free agency “theft” of Juan Soto.
Moves by other players apparently pushed the two sides together. Kyle Tucker signed with the Dodgers, J.T. Realmuto with the Phillies, and Bo Bichette with the Mets, who also landed Luis Robert, Jr. in a trade with the Chicago White Sox.
Versatile Veteran
That narrowed the market – as well as team budgets — for Bellinger, who boasts the ability to play all three outfield positions plus first base. He also has surprising speed for a big man.
At age 30, Bellinger should be in his prime as a player. The former National League MVP has averaged 32 home runs and 97 runs batted in per season over his nine-year tenure in the majors. His resume includes personal peaks of 47 home runs and 115 RBIs. In three other seasons, he just missed triple digits in RBIs.
He carries a lifetime batting average of .261.
Bellinger also has considerable postseason experience, with 10 home runs in 17 series.
Kyle Schwarber, another left-handed slugger, rode free agency to a five-year contract extension at terms similar to Cody Bellinger’s. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
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His new deal approximates the five-year contracts Kyle Schwarber and Alex Bregman received from the Phillies and Cubs, respectively.
He would have $77.5 million remaining if he exercises his first opt-out, after the 2027 season. Bellinger would be 32 at that time.
The son of former Yankee Clay Bellinger, he spent six seasons with the Dodgers and two with the Cubs before coming to the Bronx last year.