In centerfielder Cody Bellinger, the New York Yankees may have avoided a major free-agent bullet this offseason.
The Yankees’ relentless pursuit of Juan Soto and subsequent acquisition of him tells a whole other story.
Soto is a Hall of Fame caliber bat that has participated in at least 150 games for three years in a row. In the 2023 season, he participated in all 162 games and recorded a massive.275/.410/.519 average. In addition, he posted a 155 wRC+, 35 home runs, 109 RBIs, and a higher walk rate than strikeout rate. Soto has never had a season with an OBP below 40% and is a top player every single season.
The Yankees Dodged a Free Agent Bullet
But Bellinger, a 28-year-old who had finished a stellar season with the Chicago Cubs, was the other option available. Ballinger hit.307/.356/.525 over 130 games, including 26 home runs and 97 RBIs. Not too bad, but the Yankees also understand that he hasn’t played well in any of the previous three seasons, which points to some serious inconsistency.
General manager Brian Cashman kept track of Bellinger’s requests, but never gave them any thought. Bellinger is seeking a deal worth more than $150 million on the free market.Given that he is still a free agent and that even Jack Curry of the YES Network stated that the Yankees were never truly in the running for his services, it appears the market is finding it difficult to assign a fair value to his talents.
However, Bellinger is a superb defensive player; during the previous season, he played 421.2 innings at first base and 686 outfield innings with four outs above average. Bellinger is a very useful defensive player since he can play both first base and outfield, but the Yankees would have taken a big risk by offering him a long-term contract worth more than $150 million. He has a history of injuries, and it is concerning because he alternates between being excellent and awful.
The Yankees had a simple choice to make: get Soto, a player who is eligible for the Hall of Fame every season, and move forward. In addition to Alex Verdugo, who the Yankees previously acquired to replace left field and who has the potential to be both an above-average hitter and a reliable defensive asset, pairing him with Aaron Judge should improve the top of the batting order.