Cody Bellinger Signs 5-Year, $162.5M Deal with Yankees
Cody Bellinger is headed back to the Bronx, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.
BREAKING: OF/1B Cody Bellinger and the New York Yankees are in agreement on a free agent contract, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 21, 2026
All offseason, the New York Yankees were viewed as the leading team for Bellinger. They were briefly involved in talks for Kyle Tucker, but Bellinger always felt like a natural fit. He spent 2025 at Yankee Stadium, posting a 125 wRC+ with 29 home runs. Both sides held out, each trying to get the other to budge and meet their demands.
Throughout the offseason, the Yankees hoped to bring Bellinger back on a five-year deal. Scott Boras sought a seven-year contract with an average annual value near $40 million, which proved unrealistic. In the end, Boras relented, and Brian Cashman got his guy. The contract is noteworthy, as it includes a no-trade clause and multiple opt-outs. Bellinger is familiar with opt-outs, having exercised one last November before ultimately landing this deal.
Cody Bellinger's deal with the Yankees is for five years and $162.5 million, sources tell ESPN. There are opt-outs after the second and third season, a $20M signing bonus and a full no-trade clause.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 21, 2026
The Cubs reportedly checked in on Bellinger earlier in January, but the fit never felt realistic. Bellinger spent 2023 and 2024 with the Cubs, and both sides parted on good terms. Still, as much as he would have been a quality addition to the outfield, the Cubs were never going to offer a contract of that size. Signs continue to point toward Seiya Suzuki opening the season as the team’s right fielder, though the offseason is not over and the Cubs still have time to make additional moves if they are so inclined.
