The Yankees’ attempt to reunite with free agent Cody Bellinger seems to have hit a wall. ESPN’s Buster Olney reports the two sides are “at an impasse.” New York is moving forward as if Bellinger is signing with another team and will look to make additions elsewhere, adds Olney.
Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reported on Thursday that the Yankees had an offer in to Bellinger for more than $30MM a year. Olney reiterated that figure, while also mentioning that the proposal on the table was for five years. Bellinger and his team (he’s a Boras Corporation client) have been pursuing a deal for seven years, while reports had New York preferring something in the four-to-five range.
A contract of five years at more than $30MM per season would be right in line with the deals inked by the top free agent bats this offseason. Pete Alonso got five years and $155MM from Baltimore. Kyle Schwarber returned to Philadelphia on a five-year, $150MM deal. The length of New York’s most recent reported offer would be an obvious sticking point for Bellinger’s camp, given their known preferences, but Olney added that they’re also looking to do better than the $30MM AAV.
Bellinger seemed to be New York’s main priority this offseason. Kyle Tucker is the premier hitter on the market, but reports suggested he was the Yankees’ backup plan to Bellinger. The club was only recently linked to Bo Bichette and has not been significantly connected to Alex Bregman.
The now 30-year-old Bellinger excelled in his lone season in the Bronx. He slashed .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs across 152 games. Bellinger made the most of the friendly confines of Yankee Stadium, hitting .302 with 18 home runs at home. His OPS slipped by nearly 200 points on the road.
The Cubs were the most recent team to join the lengthy list of Bellinger suitors. The Dodgers, Giants, Mets, Angels, Blue Jays, and Phillies have all been connected to the free agent outfielder at various points this offseason. A return to Chicago would be fitting after the club twice gave Bellinger a home when the market went cold on him.
After the Dodgers cut ties with the 2019 NL MVP, the Cubs added him on a one-year, $17.5MM pact for 2023. Bellinger hit a career-high .307 and posted a 135 wRC+ in his first year in Chicago, but it wasn’t enough to garner a long-term deal from other teams the following offseason. The Cubs brought him back late in the winter on an opt-out-laden three-year deal. The club would ship him to the Yankees after just a season in what amounted to a salary dump, so maybe it isn’t a perfect homecoming.
Photo courtesy of Brad Penner, Imagn Images
Feels like we got to the Jeter’s last contract stage where Cashman told him, if you’ve got a better offer, take it.
This is when Jed Hoyer and the Cubs check in and swoop him away on a one-year deal for a magical amount.
Hilarious!
Scott Boras is at an impasse with reality again.
If this marriage divorces, both will have later regrets. I’m still not believing the Yankees offered five years at at least $30m (assuming no deferrals). If true and the Yankees pivot, Belli will be kicking himself. While he’s a very good player, the Bronx is clearly built for him.
The problem there is he has shifted reality before. May he hit the brick wall this time!
Stearns isn’t going 6 years for Bellinger. He won’t even go the 5 that Cashman offered. He wants more than Alonzo got.
Bellinger is younger and better than Alonso, so six years wouldn’t necessarily be a stretch. Seven and his $30M per avg. may actually be the norm by then.
In what world is he better? Hes almost a slap hitter now; he hits wall scrapper hrs in yankee stadium
Bellinger was not as valuable tonhis team as Alonso over the last five seasons, and will be less valuable over the next five.
Do the compare of 2021 through 2025 seaasons, and Alonso’s WAR is over 14 and Bellinger’s is under 12.
Sure, Bellinger has more stolen bases and more at bats than Alonso, but every other catagory is Alonso’s
And clutch???
Bellinger’s playoffs OPS is .753, and Alonso’s is 1.003.
Want more?
Bellinger’s hard hit rate and barrel rate have been dropping the last few years, and his legs in years 4 and 5 won’t be what rhey are now, so you could be paying him big bucks to be a decent first baseman but with middling to lower power for a power postiion on rhe field. .
Go ahead. Do rhe comparison on baseball-reference and see what i refer to.
Boras blew it turning down 5-150 to 155 from the Yankees. The Yankees will pivot to Bichette, and Bellinger will not have learned anything from the last time Boras held him back in Free agency before the Cubs saved his bacon.
The Yankees will NOT bid against themselves.
Lloyd
Maybe in the “alternate universe” where all Yankee players must have beards.
Suppose Belli was offered 5 years and $155 million from the Yankees. Does anyone believe that the Mets or Blue Jays are going to top that?
I think the Dodgers will be happy to offer Belli 35-40 million on a one year deal. Belli would be stupid to do that. He should take whatever is the best deal from the Yankees, Blue Jays and Mets.
And the Yankees get Bichette and Tucker because they’re angry like the Hulk.
Hope not. He’s not worth it. His numbers on road are very pedestrian
Llpyd – Then I’d like to see Cashman check in on Bregman and swoop him away on an 8-year $240M deal.
Make it happen, Cash!
FPG- I can drive Alex to the Bronx
This aged well, FPG
It would be hilarious if he and Boras have misread the rest of the market and he ends up with another team on a poorer deal.
That is what I hope. This Boras is a nuisance for baseball and for the fans.
PaulQuebec: A nuisance to you? How has he harmed you?
He didn’t get me my Mac deal at Burger King.
Paul
Do you get upset at realtors that make lowball offers or car salespeople who negotiate?
Owners should try to pay less and players should try to get more. That is how it works. Belli and Boras are not villains. The Yankees are not villains. Both sides are entitled to take as long as they like to decide, even after Opening Day.
Now as an owner, a player is worth less to me if they cannot report on time due to injury risk. And I would want time to set up my backups and depth players once I have ascertained my likely starters.
But all this anger seems to be jealously. The nerve of some guy who is not even a top 20 player in the league to turn down $150 million. Why should it bother you? The nerve of a billionaire not to throw in an extra couple million to get a deal to work. Why should it bother you? It is supply and demand unless you think the owners are colluding prior to a lock out. If there is collusion, the Blue Jays and Dodgers did not get the memo.
AGENTS DON’T DICTATE WHAT THE CLIENT DOES!!!! I’m an entertainment agent and I can’t stand when ppl try and blame us for what the client does. If Bellinger wanted to sign the deal the Yanks offered then the deal would be done already and Boras would gladly take his commission and move on to the next client.
MLB – I get what you’re saying, but realtors really isn’t the same thing.
Agents decide the asking prices, knowing what their clients are willing to accept.
Realtors working with buyers are required to put through lowball offers, even though buyer realtors absolutely despise lowball offers. Realtors always want the highest offer possible because a) It increases the possibility of the seller accepting and b) It increases the realtor’s commission.
BTW – The Yankees are indeed villains, that’s why they are called The Evil Empire ;O)
Fever Pitch Guy: The example is close enough. It’s all about negotiating in a market. There are no good guys or bad guys.
Just to clarify my own post, if I were Bellinger there is no way that I would turn down five years $155 million with a NTC and no opt-outs. And if I was the Yankees, I would make that offer, but it would probably be my limit on years and money. I might be open to offering opt-outs after years three and four.
If the Yankees are offering three or four years at $31 to $32 million per year, then I could see Belli turning it down.
Aloha MLB100, speaking of Boras clients that are demanding so many years, then there is Alex. He wants a 6-7yr deal!! He’s 32yrs old, had quite an injury that limited him to only 114 games and wasn’t good upon his return. I don’t want want him on the Cubs, we have Shaw. There are Cub fans who think he should get 5-6yrs upwards of 180.00, who cares about his injury. Jed offered him 4yrs last year and he turned it down. Again I don’t want him but if push came to shove, 2yrs with a team option. I think he’s a better fit for Boston, I hope they lock him up so Jed is out of that option. Mahalo!
I think Shaw will be better than Bregman in a couple years. And I would rather extend Hoerner than get Bregman. Bregman is a better fit for Boston, Seattle, Arizona or Pittsburgh. Not sure Boston has anyone to bid against unless Tigers Mets, Yankees or Cubs shock me.
MLB Top 100 Commenter: The Cubs just shocked you for five years.
Alfred
Wow! I hope that they extend Hoerner, or all least keep Hoerner and Shaw for 2026 before making a decision.
Aloha MLB100, unfortunately Jed just got the approval to give Bregman 5yr/$175mil, a darn overpay…very disappointed in Jed. Guess Shaw and Nico are getting traded at some point. Crazy. Mahalo
Not a ton a clients, huh?
Usually happens to at least one Boras guy every few years or so.
All I gotta say “this definitely has some Bichette written all over it!!!
Bichette wants 300M lol
LOL. Bichette won’t even get $170 million, much less $300 million.
Tucker or Bust
As they should. No reason to keep negotiating if no one else has offered more.
Agree, let him come crawling back in a month
Well said.
I’m pretty sick and tired of these MLB contract talk “impasses” which are really nothing more than teams offering the best deal on the market and players demanding more even though nobody is offering it.
Really, there is no impasse, just agents insisting on pushing for overpays. Enough is enough!
How dare they?!?
Redsox571 I agree 200% let him walk as much of a fit he is he’s far from being irreplaceable just like everyone else….I also understand Boras and all agents just doing there job but it gets old ……he is what only a couple years post dodgers saying hit the road JACK!!!! I wish baseball could form a system where you get paid on performance after the season and if your crap your don’t get 30 million a year times 5 6 or 7 I know that’s pie in the sky thinking how long until we see billion dollar deals untill a player is 45 …..rant over lol ….let’s go bears…DA BEARS I have been waiting 40yrs for them to be good again lol
Performance based pay after the season is over would be awesome. Probably have to be some amount guaranteed maybe based on years of service though, maybe 20% base pay and 80% performance based might work…
Possibility this is a redux of the 2009 offseason Yankees Johny Damon negotiations. Boras misread the market, the Yankees went elsewhere. NY didn’t actually spend the Damon money wisely but Damon managed to play only three more years, with his last one limited to 64 games and he was released in August. I’m not saying that would happen with Bellinger, but you can see a longer term contract ending up badly.
The players are looking at Alonso and Schwarber and saying those guys can’t even play a position and you’re offering me the same?
Both are pure HR and rbi machines unlike Bellinger. He does not deserve $30-37 million avv, more like $25-27 million tops
redsoxu571: What’s it to you? It’s not your money.
Redsoxu571- I appreciated in the past when the agents (Boras) would at least fabricate a story about a mystery team that has “offered double that amount”.
Seems like they can’t even be troubled to do that anymore, lol
@ angry Yankee
Why would anyone offer more? Bellinger is not a $30MM a year player.
Belli is a $30 million dollar a year player if Dylan Cease is. I would not have given either of them more than 5 years and $155 million. Maybe Cease is a little less with some deferrals, but my point is that Belli is probably worth as much as Cease, just for five years on either of them.
Is Alonso a 31M dollar player?
More from Baltimore than Belli is to the Yankees. The O’s had to jump the market to get Alonso to move. While his glove is average, his power and what he does yo the image of the team are clearly worth it to the Orioles.
They won’t unless they’re stupid. Then Bellinger will realize his best shot at a multi year deal is the one the Yankees offered.
Either Tucker or Bellinger leads to Boras. Regardless of which one you negotiate with. Boras’ reply is no and raises the price on both players. This is going to continue until one of the players gets tired of the bull$#i7 and signs a short term deal. We have a minimum of 3 years of history to look at.
Tucker is not a Boras client.
I can’t see any other team offering Cody Bellinger more than 5/150. What is he thinking?
Can’t agree more, but we’ve seen contracts like that in the past.
Boras is thinking for him
Definitely not great for Cody. He should really stay in Yankee stadium.
It kind of seems like the most likely situation is Bellinger has better offers. I doubt he’s playing chicken with generational wealth just for the heck of it.
Anyone going over five years for a declining Bellinger is a fool.
Yah but that’s not Bellinger’s problem. That’s Bellinger’s fortune.
He’s done it before, already has generational wealth, and comes from money too.
He already has generational wealth bozo
Don’t fault him for shaking the tree to see what falls – Cease got 7/175 off a vastly inferior age 29 platform year after all. But yeah, he could shake too hard and have a piano fall on his head like Wiley Coyote.
This is the only surprising thing to me this winter. The projections are way off this year.
Cease is the crazy thing. It’s $180m with the deferrals in value but still crazy. They jumped the market there.
Yep. Blue Jays badly misread things on the Cease deal.
Early deals are always the best ones for the players
Too early to tell. Cease is the youngest of the top 3 FA SP with the best actual stuff. We don’t know what Framber and Suarez get yet.
Quality pitching in general is very scarce, and we’re now in a world where even the #4-5 starters are making 15-20 million per year as free agents. Not surprised Cease is making 7/175 despite being a true talent #3.
The thing with Bellinger though is that he really only fits in well at Yankee Stadium because his swing is geared towards pulling fly balls to the short porch. He just doesn’t have the bat speed or the raw strength to mash everywhere like Schwarber and Tucker can. This isn’t to say that he should just accept whatever lowball offer Hal and Cashman throw at him, but his market is just a tad more limited than Tucker’s largely because of their different batting styles.
I’m sure his bat would play just fine in other offensive parks. Boston has a very short right field as an example. Yes I know Boston is not looking for OF help.
baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/statcast-park-f…
Doesn’t sound like he’s getting “lowballed”!
Maybe not in AAV, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the number of years is far apart.
His home-road splits were extreme last year. In Yankee stadium, Bellinger mashed for a 152 wRC+. That’s elite. On the road, he fell to a 97 wRC+, which is just a tick below average. That’s a 55 point drop off.
SgtGrumbles,
“Boston has a very short right field…”
Not really. It’s very short down the line, 302 feet, but the fence rapidly angles away deeper. In Yankee Stadium the fence is much more perpendicular to the foul line.
You need to look at the Statcast page for PF that you linked, but factor in for LHHs. Fenway ranks 24th, and Yankee Stadium ranks 5th, for HRs hit by LHHs.
Cease is at least a true talent #2 and a borderline #1. He’s better than the other free agent starters and getting paid like it. The Blue Jays know what they’re doing.
Dorkus Malorkus?? That’s not Latin!!!
Yeah, but Biggus Dickus is.
Truly, I hope he and Boras have to catch me back to NY and are forced to grovel. No way, Bellinger is worth more than $30 m @ 5 years
I agree, 150 seems like his ceiling, and even that feels like a gut punch given his home/road splits.
You don’t know Arte Moreno then…..he’s probably dangling 8/240 so Bellinger can be the Angel’s next albatross contract.
I agree. If it is truly a 5-150 offer, that is pretty fair in comps/value.
It’s actually a vast overpay. He’s not that good away. They should use lefty bats of the prospects they’ve hyped so long be it Jones or Dominguez.
Seems we see these kind of statements shorty before the player signs with that team
After this the best might be 4 years $95 mill
That would be epic.
Bellinger taking the Alonso deal with the Mets?
Will the Yankees pivot to Tucker or Bichette?
Why would he take the same offer with the mutts but not the Yanks, doesn’t make sense.
Its the best offer he receives, and the Yankees pull their offer and move on.
Alonzo did this to the Mets last yr. If a team says this is our best offer. You want more… fine, go somewhere else. Alright our offer is now 3yrs cause we are bidding against ourselves. We know you can help us next year and the year after but after that it’s a wash. Take your money or don’t.
That would send a better reply
I’m probably in the minority but if the Yanks are to sign Bichette or Bregman then I wouldn’t be afraid to see Dominguez as the everyday OF. Either you have faith in him or you dint but he didn’t seem overwhelmed by mlb pitching at age 22 in the bright lights of Yankee stadium. It would be a shame to see him flourish elsewhere.
I’m with you (except I’m a never Bregman). Jasson just needs reps, he’s still really young. Most guys his age are in A-ball, maybe AA. Judge didn’t make his debut til he was 2 years older than him and was a regular until he was 3 years older. Let the kid play.
*he wasn’t a regular
I think Judge started when he was 5 years older than Dominguez is now. the kid is 22.
Yeah I mean the question is is the quality increase you’re getting from Mcmahin to Bregman/Bichette greater than the quality decrease from Bellinger to Dominguez with offensively defensively. I am unsure I see the merits and issues with both
He can hit. Its his defense… bad routes to the ball singles become doubles etc
Plus he’s had arm issues which pushed him off of CF as he came up through the ranks. I think Dominguez is a fine player who can start on average teams but on a contender like the Yankees he’s ideally their 4th OF.
He’s athletic enough to be at least a league average OF. If he keeps working hard, his defense will get better.
Boras you wanna keep holding out fine we don’t need your players beyond this yr
Hey look if this guy wants to play like this, then agreed move on. If he doesn’t find anything he’ll be back, but I wouldn’t wait. Go find that offense elsewhere or maybe see what Jasson and Jones have finally.
I cannot believe I’m actually agreeing with the Yankees placing limits on pursuing a free agent, but I am. Cody isnt the guy they should go all out for. Especially since they’ve been so reluctant to cut players with more than a full season left to play.
I agree, Clip. This is the second time he has overestimated his market. We will see where it gets him, I seem to recall the last time he had to settle.
Go all out for Tucker instead.
Good! He’s not worth it, would rather they sign someone else.
Who?
Dude you are not getting 7 years.
Does anyone know if these are the demands of player or agent? Also does he want to be a Yankee? If not move on to someone else. This is the problem with Grisham coming back that QO was Cashman biggest mistake along with trading for Montas or Gallo.
I can guess around 180 million.
Well if Grisham wasn’t back either than we’d really have a problem. If Trent comes even close to last year it’ll be a fine 1 year deal.
Belli was rather firm on wanting 7 years.
No one is giving him that.
He knows he’s not getting seven, but some dingdongs like the Mets might overpay as usual and go six, plus feel like they’re playing big boy baseball by “stealing” him from the Yanks.
I think they are done with that nonsense.
I don’t think Mets are going over 4 for anyone. I’d actually be surprised over 3.
There’s a reason Heyman keeps mentioning the Mets are in…boras doesn’t have them in any of the bidding this year which deflates the market.
I think you’re right on that account.
Good for him. I’d like a solid gold house and rocket car.
@mlb
Will you stop it with the Grisham. It’s not like his salary is preventing them from other deals. And really, this idea that Grisham is going to go from “meh” to “good” back to “,meh” over the course of 3 years is just personal bias. The underlying numbers suggest he may have just figured it out. Maybe the Yanks saw something which is why they acquired him. I wouldn’t be shocked if he pushed another 25-30 homer year. If they didn’t have Grisham then Beli would have a heck of a lot more leverage. Give credit to Cashman for having a contingency plan. And give him credit for dabbing Soto and Grisham in the Dame deal for King who was a misfire reliever (kudos to the Padres for converting him) and a couple of pitching prospects that could be decent back end guys but nothing spectacular yet (Thorpe and Vazquez).
@salzilla
Its not like they aren’t offering more because of Grisham. Would you prefer they have two openings in the OF?
I’m saying I like that Grisham came back. And no I don’t think Trent’s QO has anything to do with what they are doing here with Bellinger and elsewhere. Everyone saying that including many in the media just sound silly. Yes they probably thought he wouldn’t take it, but they definitely offered it with both scenarios mapped out. That’s how front offices work.
The agent is merely the servant and mouthpiece of the player
Agreed but it this case Boras is the mouthpiece after he has brainwashed the player into believing that he can get more. No one is giving 5/150 other than maybe the Yankees.
Paying Grisham the QO is not a problem.
Can’t get it if you don’t ask!!
Seems like an unusual “leak” for a team to make. They seem frustrated, and probably should be. Belli’s a good player but he’s not THAT good and it’s hard to imagine a team without a short right field would give him more. This is gonna be interesting and fun, cuz Cashman might just say eff it and sign Tucker.
Tucker want’s 10+ years. Don’t see how that’s better than 7.
Tucker is almost 2 years younger and is consistent. I’d take Tucker at 10 vs Bellinger at 7. 2019 Bellinger is never coming again, so I wouldn’t spend over $200mil plus over 7 years for so many peaks and valleys.
For Tucker, injury is the biggest issue.
Tucker won’t be getting 10 years in this market.
Well, he’s WAY more valuable.
Tucker’s a better and younger player. That’s how it’s better.
Perhaps Tucker isn’t interested in being the Yankees’ backup plan.
Tucker should be no one’s back up plan to Cody Bellinger.
The Dodgers didn’t even bring him back for his last arb year and the Cubs paid money to make him go away after year 1 of his 3-year deal.
The idea that there are multiple teams willing to go 4-5 years (or longer) on him seems like wishful thinking especially with how the market is playing out.
Even 30m/yr seems like a lot. I wonder if the Yankees offer was shorter (2-3 yrs) than expected? I kind of think he and Boras would jump if offered 5/150m with how things played out with his previous teams.
I feel like it’s more of a case where other teams are offering more than 5 years but around low 20million. While the Yankees are the only ones offering 30 but on a shorter term deal (since his home stats are so great). They are just trying to pit teams against each other and hope they think “this team is offering 7 years” will force the Yankees to add another year at least. But, teams aren’t buying it and no amount of corny rhymes from boras will change their minds
Tucker should’ve been option number 1 for the Yankees going back to last offseason when he was on the block and they had just lost Soto
That sounds like good news to me. I’m glad they’re at an impasse. Just let him go. The Yankees are probably bidding against themselves for him anyway. If he really thinks she can do better than what he was offered more power to him.
Mets might sign him now. Or the Pirates!
If he really thinks she can do better than what he was offered more power to him.
=============================================================================
What is it supposed to mean?
That’s my phone correcting me where I didn’t need to be corrected. I’m sorry I gave you too much to think about and you had to put all that comment in there. words get misspelled in these comments or someone uses a wrong word here and there. Not many people ask what they really mean when it was pretty obvious. I hope you’ll be able to sleep tonight.
Oh, and I didn’t realize I put to many equal signs. So sorry about that too.
That was a lot of equal signs. None of that was necessary but go ahead and knock yourself out with the equal signs if that makes you happy.
It’s cool. I was going to use it for chin-ups.
Fine.
7 years.
First 2 years, 33 million, next 3, 31 million. That totals 159 million.
The 6th and 7th year is 20 million.
If he wants a 7 year contract, offer 7/$150mm. $23mm per is more like his worth, anyway.
On a completely different topic: RIP Bob Weir.
Haven’t heard that name in quite a while. I hope this isn’t wrong, but is that the guy from the Grateful Dead?
Yes it is.
Yup. RIP Bobby. What a long strange trip it’s been. Grateful Dead was my first concert ever at MSG. I met Jerry in D.C. the year before he died. Saw the Dead 50 times. End of an era. 😢
My former bosses were big Dead Heads, they would always go see them when they were in town. I bet they’re a little emotional right now, they loved Jerry and the guys. RIP to Bob Weir.
He should have yelled “SOLD!” as soon as $150M was mentioned. He has been too inconsistent and lots of numbers show even this could be overly generous.
Don’t get it. Every other team is looking at Bellinger’s numbers away from Yankee Stadium last year. He was average meat at best. And he expects another team to top 5/150? Good luck, Cody.
Time for the Mets swoop in!
Dear Lord, I hope they would not pay that much.
@SuperDuper I just don’t think the Mets would be offering 5 years to Cody Bellinger, let alone 7 years.
I would reduce his offer to 5 years at 29 million per, get a better offer if you can, accept in 3 days or it goes down to 28 million, I doubt he has many offers, if he leaves good riddance
I love arm chair GM’s
Boras clients have never met in the middle with the Yankees. If Yankees don’t overpay they take opt out deals elsewhere
It’s not so much just the AAV, as the Yankees are repeat offenders and any signing would come with an approximate 50% hit. Not exactly sure of the specifics but it’s going to cost them more than the actual $$ value.
Yeah if hes not accepting in the range of what the reported offer was, call his bluff and move on. This should have been a surefire reunion but now Bellinger is probably getting a lesser contract elsewhere.
Honestly, For all the flack Stearns has gotten, they seem to have sent the message that they will not be toyed with by Boras this year. He basically shamed them into Alonso last year. And the Soto thing was crazy.
Yanks should lower it to 4 years.
Cashman bidding against himself, as usual. Five years at $30M AAV is excessive given the questionable up/down performance of Bellinger. Already in decline as numbers away from NY show. Always been over-rated and over-hyped.
This guy is such a baby. He does this every year.
This dude is nuts
4/140 final offer or accept what the Cubs are giving you. Still need a starter and a reliever…
Move on Cashmam, you’ve waited the whole off season for Clay Bellinger. You have 5 solid options. He’s greatly butchered this off season.
You mean his kid, right? Cody Bellinger
No, Clay came out of retirement
Given his proven track record of laying a goose egg, I wouldn’t want to sign him if there’s bad blood due to the contract issue. You do not want a disgruntled Belli on your team.
To heck with the dumb Yankees!
Let’s Go Yankees
7 years for a 30-year-old. Ain’t happening. Buh bye Belli.
Bellinger may pay the consequences of Boras’ greed
Now Boras has to work harder to find a team willing to sign Bellinger
Teams may have more leverage in $$$/years for Bellinger – not 6-7 years deal Boras pushing
He is really only worth 5/150 to the Yanks, because he plays so well at Yankee Stadium. He won’t beat that offer elsewhere. If the Yanks snag someone before Boras comes to the negotiating table for that offer, he probably isn’t topping 4/100.
Tell Cody to go shove his demands up his you know what
Google this
famous boras clients who flopped
Google AI has interesting comments
An interesting query would be if Boras client’s flop more than other agencies. Or what value they provide in comparison to other agencies. It would be an interesting study on which agency creates the most value for teams and which creates the most value for players.
That would be a good MBA student project
Can’t keep waiting on Boras and his clients all off-season. The team has done nothing so far….the only positive thing is that enough options remain if Bellinger thinks he is worth 7 years (he isn’t).
The Yankees can pivot to Tucker or Bichette, though that would cost them draft picks & international bonus money.
Bellinger puts his value above Alonso’s and Schwarber’s? He is a fool.
The Yankees don’t want another DJ LeMahieu contract, and rightfully so.
Meh, the Yankees did it to themselves with DJL. They pushed it to six years to spread out the tax hit. Bad idea at the time and even more so as the years passed
I’m quite surprised both sides can’t agree on a series of performance-driven vesting player options for years 6 and 7.
For example- if Cody averages an OPS of at least. 800 over the first 4 years, the 6th year automatically vests. Or, if he averages an OPS above .825 in years 4 and 5, it vests as well. Use your imagination for the hypothetical 7th year as well.
I’m typically pro-player when it comes to negotiating, but have also seen too many teams burned by declining performance on an awful contract to believe that the player needs to assume some “risk” as well.
Performance-based contract terms like that are not allowed by the CBA. Incentives can only be for showing up, like Plate Appearances or Innings Pitched, which can account for injuries or for a player being bad enough that they get benched.
I think the reason they can’t agree on that is because it’s not allowed by the rules.
“Tucker is the backup plan” LOL ok good luck with that
He is going to be left holding the bag. Not sure how many years it takes for him to realize he’s not getting the mega deal he thinks he is.
Boras can try and use Heyman to say the Cubs are also kicking the tires on Bellinger, but that’s not fooling anybody. Hoyer basically dumped his salary last offseason to the Yankees, he’s not signing with the Cubs.
Give it another month and Bellinger will come back asking the Yankees if that offer is still on.the table, that’s if Cashman doesn’t get another bat.
He’s an asset to the team but he’s also up and down so much. It’s a lot of money for extreme volatility
Fact is Boras has no reason to agree to anything short of what he wants right now, because Bellinger’s market hasn’t been set. Tucker will set the market. Yankees don’t like it?, tough. The Bichette rumor is such a weak pivot plant by Cashman. There is no fit for him in the Bx. No way that shakes Boras.
Spot on!
How is there no fit? You a big Ryan McMahon fan? You obviously just move Jazz to 3B and play Bo at 2B
And what do you do with McMahon and his 2/$32M contract?
Are the Yanks paying all of it?
Either way, they’re the Yankees. It doesn’t matter as much to them as it would for other teams. They’ve had much worse contracts on the team in recent years.
Yes, they are. Of course it matters when they’re in the 110% tax bracket. Even for Cashman, it’s a poor use of resources to sign a defensively-challenged Bichette to displace a superior-gloved McMahon.
Yankees need to now try and replace Belli? Lol this is why Cashman needs to go. If you have a number in mind and you want the player back. Offer it a week into free agency. Give them a deadline here’s our offer we want you back its a fair offer 5/150 you have 48 hrs otherwise we are going a different way and that offer is gone. You can’t wait for other teams to sign guys and now not have a suitable replacement. Bellinger was good for every outfield position and 1st base. Looks like judge may get more reps in center when Grisham comes back to earth!go and sign bichette and then sign Chisholm to a extension move jazz to LF bichette to 2b and then sign Rhys Hoskins as a back up 1b corner outfielder and hopefully thats enough offense with any injuries
Blake Snell, another Boras client, had to take a 1yr contract with the Giants when no team wanted to sign him long term. Yes Bellinger’s sutuation is different but Yankees should hang tough and prepare to move on.
If he isn’t interested in your offer, he’s not worth signing. Time to move on and let him go elsewhere. Guy looks like he’s only got another 3 years left anyway, so giving him 7 is a huge waste.
Sign Bichette, Austin Hays, and Bassitt. Call it a day
He’s going to the Angels; 6 for 150
Offered 30 mil a year and you cannot come to terms? It is getting crazy. At some point the faucet is going to run dry and it won’t be the stars who suffer it will be club employees, 1-3 year guys, all the Minor league teams because that is where the money will be coming from. Players talk about security, 30 mil a year even for a couple of years is pretty darned secure. Earn your money and you can do it again…
Trying to imagine what “recently linked” looks like IRL. A) Hey Scott, you have my number if you want to discuss $25MM over 5 years. B) Hey Scott, I hear the market is softening, let’s chat. C) Hey Scott, I will do 7 years/32MM. How come you won’t sign? D) Hey Scott, I will try to beat any Yankee offer, Let me know, or E) ___________?
come on Colorado .. now’s the time to pounce .. offer him the seven years and throw a wrench into the negotiations
Mike. The budget the Rockies have is 7 years 21m. Not 7/210
Right, because their seven year contract with Kris Bryant is going so well.
Exactly when did you find out about his weak back ?
About a week back.
Sooooo bellinger is dumb.
He’s for a spotty track record and poor road splits and he’s 30
Take the 30 x 5 and run dummy.
Yankees dodged a bullet. Sincerely, a jays fan.
For the money being talked about, I would really like to know what Tucker is asking for.
5/150 for a guy who was slightly below average in road games, and it’s not enough for the player?
If I’m Cashman, I’d pass on Bellinger and set my sights on Tucker. Much better player and younger to boot.
At this point, why not Tucker?
Seriously, idk why they’re averse to him. I think because they don’t give up compensation with Belli. That’s the only logical reason. Tucker is a guy you go all in for. Should’ve traded him for last offseason tbh
I think Bellinger goes back to Cubs
Really doubt he will get more than 5yrs 150mil if that’s what the Yanks were offering
Bellinger will be a Met. Bichette will be Bronx bound.
Expect Boras to come down to six years now with a slightly higher AAV than a seven-year deal. He does not want the Yankees to be out of the running.
More bad advise from Boras to a client. 5 years at over 30m aav is a great timeline. At age 35, he can sign a decent sunset contract for a few years and retire. A 7 year deal puts him at age 37 when the likelihood of a good sunset contract is way lower. I think his overall money would be higher signing an end of career contract at 35 instead of 37. Maybe not.
No team will come close to beating, or even matching the Yankees offer. Bad decision in my opinion.
Your analysis includes an assumption that all will go well. However as time increases so does the possibility of things going wrong. A freak injury, a decline in skills at a steeper rate than projected.
Look unless you’re an actuary and can show me your math I got to assume Boras has the kinda of people on his staff that have worked out the probabilities and said hey, trying to get a 7 year deal sounds like a better deal for our guy than a 5 year deal.
Yes, you’re right. My model assumes no issues over the contract period.
Boras is not that good an agent as he once was, teams are smarter & have more data than he does
this impasse largely stems from the fact that he couldn’t deliver the mega contracts when his clients hit their first FA
what we’re seeing is the boras ripple effect in the market as well as the impending skubal arbitration.
its largely a flawed & weak market, given how tucker’s market is slow moving because all the rumors & reports & boras likely leveraging tucker’s # to boost bellinger
his market isn’t going to move unless blown away
bellinger’s last FA he signed end of february, so the boras process is a rocky road
I’m indifferent towards Boras. He serves a purpose for players. Based on my observatuions, he’s doing as good as ever.
At some point these guys are going to realize that Boras is actually a bad agent. Bellinger and Bregman already lost out on their first big contracts because Boras had them take short deals. Same thing with Jordan Montgomery. He took a short deal and fell off a cliff.
Bregman just got 5/175 – 35m a year I’d call a big contract.
If I’m the Jays I’m offering 6/210 and stealing him from the Yanks.
Boras knows the Yankees are desperate to bring Bellinger back. The stare down could last awhile.
Good, maybe the Mets can get Bellinger instead lol
Ok, I am going to spend 150m of Bobs money and give Belli his 7 years. Problem solved
Wow. It’s a beautiful picture!
Does Bellinger remember that he was non tendered just a few years ago? The rest of the league does.
If Bellinger wants to win he will not return to the yankees
borass is nuts if he advises him against 5/150. just hoping this doesn’t somehow end up w the Dodgers getting him inked. at some point you need to think about where he fits best and that’s a boatload of lifetime cash.
When their announced plan B is paying Tucker market prices ($300m-$400m), plan A (Bellinger) is smart to maximize their leverage.
There’s a large gap to exploit, and they are trying.
Yankees are tossing Bo into the mix late to lower their perceived plan C prices. This seems to be a leverage play more than anything.
Bellinger is not a different player now than he was two years ago when he got $80m except that he’s 2 years older. So the thought that he’s now worth twice as much money while selling much less of his prime than he was selling last time suggests they think market factors are different now. But are TV contracts any more settled than they were two years ago? Sure doesn’t seem like it. CBA certainty? That doesn’t seem like a box checked. Teams seemed willing to pay for relievers early but maybe that’s not an overall market indicator. We saw high trade values for relievers last deadline. Seems like teams are just valuing bullpens more now compared to the other position groups. I’m not seeing the Bellinger/Boras reasoning for their willingness to hold out for better than what the Yankees are offering. Unless it’s more about other preferences. Maybe he’d gladly take that offer from a team that trains in Arizona where he lives but not a Florida based team? Or he’s got a better offer in hand but wants to go back to the Yankees?
This dude has been non tendered and salary dumped in the last few years, and sprinkled a few good seasons in between, 4 years and 100 million might still have you regretting signing him
Bellinger going back to the Dodgers.
Yankees just delaying the inevitable. They will sign Bellinger and they will overpay to get the deal done. It is just a matter of when.
The guy bounces around an awful lot for a solid player….
I hope the owners stand pat finally and stop paying these 30% yearly increases to free agents.
Cody looks like a pothead.
Give him 7/230. Stop being cheap
Kyle Tucker, 9 years, 360M, move on
Thats a Yankee contract
Good.bellinger is a huge scrub and would be an immediate albatross
Offer him 7/175 with $8mil bonus for each WAR over 3 or 4/150. Pivot to Tucker if he doesn’t accept.
I’m gonna be in the minority but I’m happy they are standing there ground. 5 years at 30m is insane as is and if he can get more which I doubt than go ahead. Now let’s let Jasson and Spencer battle it out for LF. Pivot and use that money in 3 trades.
1st take on Arenado contract to platoon at third and first with Donovan to be super utility.
2- trade for Hoerner after cubs sign Bregman
3- trade for a starter
That’s how you pivot and move on!
Overpay this, overpay that… who cares!!! The cubs are going for it!!!! This is the best rotation the cubs have run out since 2016. It’s the best lineup the cubs have run since 2016. Alcantara, Austin, Shaw is the best bench they’ve run since 2016. Who gives a ratsass if they overpayed. The cubs are over the tax and Tom shuts up naysayers. I’m with it.
It’s probably like 3/90
I even think 5@150 is too much. I’d put his value at around 4@100.
Id put his value at 4@20
LOL Yankees!
Yankees went to +475 to win AL on Fanduel recently while other books had them at +300ish. Assumed they had to know something. Think it was this.
Um…no
Give him 4/20. Who says no?