Home Industry Sports Cubs give Yankees Cody Belling...
Sports
Business Fortune
19 December, 2024
In a trade with the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, the New York Yankees acquired outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger, continuing to add elite players after outfielder Juan Soto defected to the New York Mets as a free agent.
In order to finalize the transaction, Chicago also sent monetary considerations to New York, which sent right-hander Cody Poteet to the Cubs.
According to sources who spoke to ESPN, Bellinger will earn $27.5 million in 2025 and has a $25 million player option in 2026. The Yankees will get $5 million to help cover his contract. To partially offset Bellinger's $27.5 million contract this season, Chicago will pay $2.5 million. According to a source, the remaining $2.5 million will either go toward Bellinger's $25 million salary in 2026 or cover the contract buyout if he chooses not to activate his player option.
Bellinger's father, Clay, was a Yankee from 1999 to 2001. Bellinger, 29, is the 2019 National League MVP. After three poor seasons, Bellinger found his form again in 2023 with the Cubs, and in March, he signed a three-year, $80 million free agency contract with Chicago.
Bellinger chose not to opt out of the remainder of his contract after hitting.266/.325/.426 with 18 home runs and 78 RBIs this season.
Bellinger's acquisition by New York comes after the team traded for All-Star closer Devin Williams and signed left-handed starter Max Fried as a free agent. In the week following Soto's signing, the Yankees have been preparing for another run after losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.
Bellinger's adaptability fills in all the gaps in New York's roster. If the Yankees choose to utilize youngster Jasson Dominguez in center, he can play there or in left field since he is an above-average center fielder. Bellinger is also a great defensive first baseman. Although the position was left available by Anthony Rizzo's free agency, New York might choose to sign Ben Rice internally or look to sign Christian Walker or Pete Alonso.