On Friday October 10, 2025, Jorge Castillo of ESPN reported that Cody Bellinger plans to opt out of his contract with the New York Yankees and become a free agent, and rumors of a move to the San Francisco Giants immediately began swirling.
Just two days before, on Wednesday October 8, 2025, Bleacher Report listed the Giants as the No. 1 landing spot for Bellinger if he leaves the Yankees.
Giants fans obviously remember Bellinger well for his years with the rival Los Angeles Dodgers. He is a star who has won basically every award in the sport: National League Rookie of the Year, National League MVP, 2 Silver Slugger awards, a Gold Glove, and a World Series Championship.
He is a threat to hit 30+ home runs every season (he has a career high of 47) and can play all 3 outfield positions at a Gold Glove level, as well as play first base and be a designated hitter. At 30 years old, he should have plenty of his physical prime left.
Why This Move Makes Sense For The Giants
In the past, this move would have been all about getting an elite outfield bat for the Giants.
But in 2025, this move would be more about the defensive upgrade it would provide the Giants.
As Joel Reuter notes in the Bleacher Report article, the Giants had some of the worst outfield defense in the MLB in 2025. Left fielder Heliot Ramos and center fielder Jung Hoo Lee are potential stars with the bat, but they can’t field their positions well at all.
Right fielder Drew Gilbert is a great defender but hasn’t hit well enough to prove he can be an everyday outfielder in the big leagues yet.
That’s the issue with basically every Giants outfielder currently in the upper levels of the organization: they can either hit and not field, or they’re great with the glove but can’t hit.
Bellinger is the total package. He would be the Giants’ best outfielder immediately, and also provides the lineup flexibility that the Giants could get his bat in the lineup every day even if the outfield on the active roster is crowded.
New San Francisco Giants President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey has aggressively pursued starpower during his tenure. Bellinger would help bring more fans to Oracle Park on a nightly basis, and make a lineup that already features Lee, Ramos, Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, and Rafael Devers even more well rounded.
Perhaps he can be the X factor that gets San Francisco back to the playoffs for only the second time in ten years in 2026.
If This Move Doesn’t Happen, Here’s Why
The Yankees probably want to bring Bellinger back, which is one potential roadblock for a deal with San Francisco.
The Yankees are, as always, a franchise with the utmost resources. It seems that Bellinger is opting out in pursuit of a bigger contract more than anything. Outbidding the Yankees is always tough and may not be worth it if the number climbs too high.
Then, there’s the always-difficult task of convincing a top free agent back to take their talents to Oracle Park. Devers and Adames did well to quiet the narrative that you can’t hit home runs at Oracle this season, but the City by The Bay still has yet to see a consistent slugger since Barry Bonds.
Finally, signing Bellinger is going to come with a tough decision. They would either have to sit a player like Ramos or Lee, or be okay with blocking the development of Gilbert and other prospects.
Giants fans, do you think San Francisco should sign Cody Bellinger?
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