The Yankees are known to have interest in reuniting with Cody Bellinger, even after Trent Grisham accepted the qualifying offer yesterday, but they will have competition. Bellinger has already been connected to the Mets and Jeff Passan of ESPN reports that the Blue Jays and Dodgers have interest in him as well.
Passan notes that the Jays want a left-handed complement to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. They have a few lefties projected to be in next year’s lineup. That includes Addison Barger, Daulton Varsho and Nathan Lukes, but there’s room for improvement there. Barger has shown signs he could be a middle-of-the-order bat but his track record in the majors isn’t especially long yet. Varsho has some home run pop but isn’t an elite hitter overall. Lukes is a pesky, contact-oriented type.
The Jays have already been connected to Kyle Tucker, a lefty swinger who happens to be the top free agent available. Bellinger hasn’t been quite at Tucker’s level for most of the recent past but he is coming off a better platform season. Passan writes that the Jays view Bellinger as an acceptable fallback to Tucker.
Bellinger just had a strong 2025 campaign with the Yankees. He hit 29 home runs while only striking out 13.7% of the time. His .272/.334/.480 batting line translated to a wRC+ of 125. He stole 13 bases and got strong defensive grades, playing all three outfield spots as well as first base.
There were some concerning elements under the hood. None of Bellinger’s 29 home runs went to the opposite field. He had a .302/.365/.544 slash and 152 wRC+ when playing at Yankee Stadium with its short porch in right field. He had a .241/.301/.414 line and 97 wRC+ on the road.
In the past, the market hasn’t always jumped on Bellinger, even when he has put up good numbers. It’s possible that is related to his unimpressive batted ball metrics, which are still present. In 2025, his average exit velocity, hard hit rate and barrel rate were all in the 36th percentile or worse.
Coming off a strong season in 2023, Bellinger reportedly went out looking for $200MM and didn’t find it. He had to settle for a three-year, $80MM deal with opt-outs. His 2024 season was mediocre enough that he didn’t even trigger the first opt-out chance. The Cubs sent him to the Yanks in what was effectively a salary dump deal, though he bounced back enough to trigger his second opt-out.
Observant Jays fans will know that the club has been connected to Bellinger throughout his ups and downs, so it’s perhaps unsurprising that they have him on the radar again. The question will be if they make him a priority with Tucker and Bo Bichette still out there. MLBTR predicted Bellinger to secure $140MM over five years, significantly less than the predictions for Tucker and Bichette but still a hefty commitment.
The Jays have a number of incumbent outfield options but there’s some flexibility in it. In addition to the aforementioned Varsho and Lukes, George Springer and Anthony Santander are likely to be sharing one corner and the designated hitter spot. There’s also guys like Barger and Davis Schneider, though those two are capable of playing the infield. Myles Straw is around as a glove-first bench guy. Signing another outfielder would likely push Lukes to a part-time position and Barger and Schneider to more full-time infield roles.
RosterResource projects the Jays for a payroll of about $233MM next year. That’s more than $20MM shy of their year-end figure in 2025. Getting back to that level would leave room for a notable addition but they would likely have to increase spending to make more than one marquee move. With needs on the pitching side of things as well, they may have to divert some of their recent extra revenue from their playoff run into next year’s team. Perhaps they will put more of a focus on Bichette but Bellinger is a possible fallback and getting both isn’t entirely impossible.
As for the Dodgers, the outfield does stand out as a place for them to add. The roster is obviously in a good place, as they just won the World Series and didn’t lose any major contributors to free agency. But if you’re looking for a place to find weak spots, the grass is a bit patchy. The Michael Conforto signing was a bust. Teoscar Hernández had an uneven season. Andy Pages had a decent year but his bat disappeared in the playoffs. Tommy Edman can play the outfield but is now recovering from ankle surgery and might be needed at second base.
Despite the need, it would be surprising if Bellinger was the solution. He was drafted by the Dodgers and spent the first six seasons of his career there but didn’t seem to part on good terms. Scott Boras, Bellinger’s agent, publicly blamed the Dodgers for Bellinger’s struggles in 2021 and 2022 after shoulder surgery. That prompted Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman to respond and defend the club. Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times was among those to relay the play-by-play of that saga back in 2023.
Given the tension there, perhaps a reunion isn’t especially likely. On the other hand, it’s not as though the situation has prevented the Dodgers and Boras from doing business. Since that spat, the Dodgers have signed Boras clients like Conforto, Blake Snell and James Paxton. If the Dodgers really want Bellinger and are willing to pay, that should win out over past squabbles.
On the other hand, it’s not clear if the Dodgers want to make a big splash in the outfield. They have also been connected to Tucker but with some reporting suggesting they might prefer to make a short-term addition as they wait for their outfield prospects to arrive. Josue De Paula, Zyhir Hope, Mike Sirota and Eduardo Quintero are all outfielders in the system and all four have been on top 100 prospect lists. They aren’t immediate fixes since no one in the quartet has reached Triple-A yet, but the Dodgers might be inclined to wait, as opposed to signing an outfielder to a mega deal. Having just won a second straight title, perhaps there’s less pressure for them to win the offseason.
Photo courtesy of Kevin Sousa, Imagn Images
Don’t forget about the Pirates. If for some reason Schwarber turns them down, we will settle for Bellinger.
Bellringer is looking north of 175 million
Ambitious goal….’Tis the season for Salvation Army.
Funny, but the Pirates could afford a Bellringer.
Why not both?
68% of Pittsburgh will have a heart attack if just one of these guys is signed. You will kill the rest of them if we sign both of them.
The health of the Burghers of Pitt is safe.
RIP
That “if” should probably be changed to “when”. Both players have spent the bulk of their respective careers playing on playoff caliber teams and neither have reached “washed-up-slugger-trying-to-hang-on-for-one-more-season” territory yet
“If for some reason”? What kind of contract do you think Ben Cherington is offering. And “settle for Bellinger”? How do you “settle” for Bellinger if you can’t sign Schwarber.
@SandlotBenchWarmer, I get your a fan that wants to the Pirates to compete, but think right.
Start spreading the news.
I hope the Dodgers go with a short term deal and wait for the prospects. The team needs to get younger.
The old wrinkly skin with reading glasses and a walking cane. Encrpyted with wisdom of 1960
This core is great and most of it is signed for many more years.
Have to keep the pedal down and push for a modern dynasty.
Not hoping for a teardown of the current team given the core is signed for a few more years. Just hoping the plethora of outfield prospects are giving a chance in 2027.
Fits for the Dodgers if Bellinger took a say 2 year deal, but why would he do that? He’s looking to get paid after a good season. Albeit with huge Yankee stadium numbers and very mediocre road stats. I’d rather trade a few of the elite prospects a younger already established OF.
Cashman, please
Let Cody and tucker go elsewhere
Go with the fabulous Jasson and Jones
Are you a Red Sox fan?
Cap: Pump the brakes man. Jones is a K machine and Dominguez hasn’t hit enough to make up for his awful glove. Dominguez theoretically has the tools to be at least decent on the grass but his reads are comically bad. He’s still young but he better hit or he’s going to be a spare part player.
The uneven home/away splits in 2025 is very concerning. We also know that his 2023 numbers were “flukish” given high BABIP and low EV/hard contact. And doubt the Dodgers would give Bellinger high AAV and/or length of contract. He’d have to take a “prior hometown” discount to reunite with the Dodges. Really doesn’t align with what Bellinger is looking for financially.
Yeah, the 2025 home/road split is troubling. But as a Jays fan, his .929 OPS at Rogers Centre (albeit in 28 PA) is interesting.
I really dont like the fit for Bellinger on either the Yankees or Jays. The Yankees have outfielders and already plenty of lefties. The Jays have plenty of outfielders i think they need to make a trade.
I like Belli more than most I’d imagine. He’s a good bat with enough versatility to fit a lot of clubs.
Toronto could be a good fit.
I want Bellinger for the Angels but, you know, it’s the Angels.
A reunion with Bellinger would sell well with Dodgers fans. Never underestimate the importance of box office appeal. Any wounded feeling over his departure can be cured by rubbing money on it.
Money cures all ailments!
I still think the Yankees go after him hard, he provides a lot of versatility that they need. Also, his contact approach helps the Yankees lineup. But, you never know with the Dodgers, I mean that in a good way.
Belli is built for the short RF porch. Let him stay in the Bronx.
When talking baseball ability, the word “capable” should never be in the same sentence as Davis Schneider.
Don’t really understand your hate for Schneider, he’s a totally adequate platoon player.
Show me the Kwan, Jerry.
Or Duran.
@Bivouac-Sal
Is that your insightful wisdom you’re spreading around, that you speak of?
Time to say so long to the troll…
@Bivouac-Sal
Buh Bye!
He would help the Jays, but not if that stops them from bringing back Bichette. I guess they made big money from the postseason and have an entire country as their market, but I still think they are just trying to drive up the Yankees’ price here before he inevitably signs in the Bronx. I don’t see how if you’re the Blue Jays you can make the World Series and then let Bichette walk, but I also can’t see them introducing two different contracts of like $175 million and $300 million.
If Bellinger doesn’t sign with the Yankees, I could see the Reds or the Brewers as a good fit, if either club has the money to spend.
Insert typical “Blue Jays are interested in …” comment here, as revealed by Cody Bellinger’s Agent in order to drive the price up.
having said that, I like the Bellinger fit in Toronto – Varsho’s a FA next year, and Lukes, Schneider and Straw aren’t everyday guys, And Bellinger could spell Vladdy at first instead of using Clement.
but I only expect one big bat assuming we can get any of them. Everyone’s screaming Tucker, but I’d be really surprised at that because a can’t see them signing Tucker and a TOTR pitcher.. Bichette’s the most likely, and Bellinger a solid plan B.
Bellinger’s performance seems so reliant on home park. Softly lofting the ball in the air doesn’t work everywhere. Statcast seems to think it should work in Toronto okay, but the park doesn’t feel that HR friendly to me. There’s been a lot of discussion around why especially Vlad’s hard hit balls haven’t gone as far as in the past. The renos might make ballpark factor unstable there as it has changed a couple of times. Roof open or closed is a factor. I don’t know. I’m not sold on Bellinger’s tricks. I think the Yankees, Reds, Astros, and Phillies should value him more than other teams.
Bellinger would check a lot of boxes for the Mets, but I think his power would shrink going from Yankee Stadium to Citi Field.
He’s a perfectly decent player, useful, fits in, but isn’t the star Boras makes him out to be. The “under the hood” stuff should give some teams pause, as should an extended negotiating period to get teams to bid up. Real possibility the back end of his contract looks like DJL.
Bellinger is a great fit for the White Sox if minority owner Justin Ishbaia was holding the purse strings AND if this was 2027 or 2028 and Cody was still 30 years old then.
I could see Arte overspending on Bellinger
Bring him back, Cash. He was a perfect fit here.