According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the New York Yankees are in agreement on a trade for Cody Bellinger from the Chicago Cubs. The Yankees are sending Bellinger and cash to the Bronx for right-handed pitcher Cody Poteet. Bellinger, a former MVP, was informed by the Yankees that he will play center field this upcoming year, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
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Bellinger, 29, has had an up-and-down MLB career. He burst onto the scene with the Dodgers in 2017, winning the National League Rookie of the Year award, and then outlasting Christian Yelich for the MVP in 2019. For three seasons from 2020-2022, Bellinger struggled to the tune of a .648 OPS and just 41 homers over 295 games.
After moving to the Cubs in 2023, he rebounded to post a .881 OPS with 26 homers and finish 10th in NL MVP voting. His 2024 was a minor step back, but still productive with 18 homers and a.751 OPS. For his career, Bellinger has hit 196 homers and posted a .818 OPS.
His defensive versatility will be a major plus to a Yankees team that still has a few holes to fill, as Bellinger can comfortably play center field, right field, and first base. His time in Chicago was mainly spent in center field, which is where he will anchor in Yankee Stadium. Arguably most notably, the move for Bellinger shifts MVP Aaron Judge back to right field, his natural position and the spot on the field he is more comfortable with.
Since losing out on Juan Soto to the Mets, the Yankees have been aggressive. They’ve signed former Braves starter Max Fried, and now traded for Bellinger and closer Devin Williams. The Yankees figured to enter 2025 as the favorites in the American League yet again after winning the pennant in 2024, and do not seem done adding to an already strong roster.
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