The ongoing saga of Cody Bellinger’s free agency means the New York Yankees may need to have alternative plans. There is also the chance that turning in a new direction could help New York add some firepower ahead of 2026.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter outlined a plan for the Yankees to “salvage the offseason.” The biggest move is the Yankees opting to sign Chicago Cubs 4-time All-Star Kyle Tucker to a 10-year, $360 million contract while allowing Bellinger to walk in MLB free agency.
“A reunion with Cody Bellinger still remains a real possibility, but he’s probably not going to sign until Kyle Tucker makes his decision, and the Yankees are still very much in the running for the top overall player in the 2025-26 free-agent class,” Reuter wrote in a December 19, 2025, story titled, “Yankees Free-Agency and Trade Blueprint to Salvage the Offseason in 5 Steps.”
“With a silky smooth left-handed swing and consistently high fly-ball rates, Tucker has an offensive profile built for Yankee Stadium, but his contributions stretch well beyond power production as he is a former Gold Glove winner and a perennial 30/30 threat,” Reuter added. “All the talk of a quiet offseason will instantly cease if the Yankees reel in the biggest fish on the market.”
Here’s what you need to know about the latest Yankees news and rumors.
The Yankees Re-Signing Cody Bellinger Would Likely Be Less Expensive Than Pushing to Land Cubs Star Kyle Tucker
Re-signing Bellinger is likely the more affordable option for the Yankees. Spotrac projects Bellinger’s market value to be a six-year, $182 million contract. The Yankees could opt to bring back Bellinger and sign additional players rather than meet Tucker’s projected asking price.
Tucker batted .266 with 133 hits, 73 RBI and 22 home runs in 136 appearances during the 2025 season. The veteran has been named an All-Star in four straight seasons.
There had been MLB rumors that Bellinger’s asking price was in the $400 million range. A report that agent Scott Boras quickly refuted as it is nearly double most projections for Bellinger.
Yankees Manager Aaron Boone on Roster: ‘Probably Not Finished’
The Yankees have been linked to plenty of big fish in MLB free agency, but the club’s offseason has largely been defined by smaller moves. New York is hoping that the club’s big move can be re-signing Bellinger. Yankees manager Aaron Boone admitted that the roster is “probably not finished.”
“I know we have a really good team right now,” Boone noted on December 20, per Yahoo Sports. “We have a lot of really good players on our roster — it’s probably not finished, there will be some tweaks up until spring training.
“It takes more than just us to tango. It takes other clubs, obviously free agents and the opportunities they have in front of them — however it lands, my expectation is we’re going to be really good and that’s how we’ll prepare.”
When it comes to Bellinger versus Tucker, the question the Yankees must answer is if signing the Cubs star makes New York that much better. Smart money is on the Yankees re-signing Bellinger and adding some smaller pieces as well. Yet, the longer Bellinger’s free agency goes on, the more speculation will grow about different paths New York could take.
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