In what was indisputably the biggest story of last MLB offseason, the New York Mets signed free agent outfielder Juan Soto away from their crosstown, inter-league rivals the New York Yankees â though it took the single largest contract not only in MLB history, but in professional sports history to get it done.
In the upcoming offseason, both teams will have a new sense of urgency to upgrade, and the 2024 scenario may repeat itself.
While of course the 2025 season is not over yet, both New York franchises are looking at potentially serious disappointments after big-spending offseasons. The pressure to spend yet again is likely to be immense.
The Yankees have another outfielder set to hit the open market, and according to one top baseball insider journalist, the Mets are ready to strike again.
Big Bucks Buy Big Collapses for New York Teams
The Mets have the second-highest payroll in the game, according to SpoTrac, at $339 million. The Yankees are not far behind in third place with a $298 million payroll for 2025.
And what have those big bucks bought the New York teams?
On May 28, the Yankees led the American League Eastern Division by seven games and seemed to be cruising toward the postseason and a second-straight World Series berth.
The Mets were up by 5 1/2 games in the National League East as late as June 12.
Bellinger Already Declined One Opt-Out Opportunity
Heading to Saturday’s MLB action, the Yankees sat in third place, 6 1/2 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays, and hanging on to the third and final AL Wild Card spot by 1 1/2 games over the Cleveland Guardians.
The Mets have lost 14 of their last 16 games to fall six games behind the Philadelphia Phillies. Their hold on the third NL Wild Card Beth is only one-half game over the Cincinnati Reds.
Before the season, the Yankees sent righty pitcher Cody Poteet and $5 million cash to the Chicago Cubs for 2019 NL MVP and two-time All-Star outfielder Cody Bellinger, who just a few weeks earlier had declined to opt out of his three-year, $80 million contract.
Another Intracity Move ‘Not Impossible’
But Bellinger has another option coming up after the 2025 season, and he is now expected to take it, according to insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
“Any more intracity movement coming? Not impossible,” Heyman wrote on Thursday. “The Yankees want to keep Cody Bellinger, whoâll surely opt out with $25 million to go for 2026, and heâs said to love it in pinstripes. But word is, the Mets also like Bellinger. Mets execs prioritize defense and versatility, and Bellinger is above average at four positions.”
Another Nightmare Scenario in the Bronx
Losing a second star outfielder to the Mets would be a “nightmare scenario,” according to Yanks Go Yard writer Stephen Parello, who warned on Sunday that the Yankees “can’t have this again. Nope.”
“The Mets could not only look at Bellinger as an option to stabilize center field with a reliable two-way contributor, but they could also look at him as a possible Alonso replacement,” Parello wrote, referring to Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, who is expected to opt out of his contract after the season as well.
“That raises the question as to whether or not the Yankees will rise to meet the price tag the Mets likely set for Bellinger,” the Yanks Go Yard scribe continued. “Bellinger’s preference might be to stay with the Yankees, but at the end of the day, it’s unclear how big of a factor money will play.”
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