Despite a 94-win season, and losing the American League East pennant on a tiebreaker despite having the best record in the AL, the New York Yankees‘ 2025 campaign can only be judged as a disappointment.
Following the record 41st World Series appearance in franchise history the year before, the Bronx Bombers squeaked by the Boston Red Sox in a three-game Wild Card series, only to suffer elimination in four games to the Toronto Blue Jays in the Division Series round.
It would seem that the Yankees are only one or two major offseason moves from World Series contention again. But with the calendar year about to come to an end, the legendary franchise has not made any.
In fact, their biggest non-move so far has been allowing free agent outfielder Cody Bellinger, whose .813 OPS was tied for third on the team with infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr., to go unsigned for two months â with no end in sight.
Bellinger Reportedly ‘Top Priority’
Bringing the 30-year-old Bellinger â who won both Rookie of the Year and MVP awards during his tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers â back into the fold has been widely reported as the Yankees’ “top priority.”
“The Yankees have been open about their desire to re-sign Bellinger, who was a strong fit with his athleticism, versatility and a demeanor that manager Aaron Boone has described as ‘blue collar-ish,’” wrote MLB.com Yankees correspondent Bryan Hoch earlier this month. “The Yanks appear primarily focused on a reunion with Bellinger.”
But the question for Yankees general manager Brian Cashman appears to be one of commitment. Baseball insider Will Sammon of The Athletic reported that the New York Mets have also been in hot pursuit of Bellinger, but have not been willing to offer him a contract of longer than four years.
The problem for the Yankees appears to be similar.
Insider Says Bellinger Wants 7 Years
Speaking on his weekly podcast Monday, longtime MLB insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post said that Boras “possibly” sees a contract lasting seven years for Bellinger.
A seven-year deal would tie the Yankees to Bellinger through his age-37 season. Even extended over seven years, the Spotrac projected price tag would have New York paying Bellinger $26 million per year through his mid-to-late 30s.
That is almost certainly the source of the Yankees’ hesitation, given that 2025 saw only Bellinger’s second OPS over .800 since his MVP year of 2019, when he put up a 1.035 number â one he has not come close to approaching since, and most likely will not as he ages.
Bellinger Reportedly Increased His Demands
According to Sammon, “Bellinger, a Scott Boras client, could be poised to land a deal north of five years.” But predictions of what Boras would seek for Bellinger most often capped at six years. ESPN prognosticator Kiley McDaniel’s most recent projection sees the nine-year veteran scoring a six-year deal worth $180 million.
Empire Sports Media founder Alexander Wilson is on record with a prediction of five years and $170 million.
Peter Caldera of NorthJersey.com saw a contract similar to the four-year, $79 million deal the Philadelphia Phillies gave slugger Kyle Schwarber, while the sports business site Spotrac estimates a six-year, $183 million Bellinger contract.
But according to Heyman’s report Monday, Boras believes Bellinger should get more.
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