The New York Yankees are forced to deal with building a 2025 roster that doesn’t include outfielder Juan Soto. Luckily for general manager Brian Cashman, there are several intriguing options available. Could the Bombers pursue a trade with the Chicago Cubs for outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger?
Although Bellinger opted into his $27.5 million salary with the Cubs for 2025, Chicago has made him available on the trade market. The two-time Silver Slugger Award winner has been linked to the Yankees at various times in recent years because he fits the club’s needs so well.
Now that Soto is headed to Queens, Bellinger could take over center field at Yankee Stadium so Aaron Judge could shift back to right field. If Cashman has other plans for the outfield, Bellinger could still fit by becoming their starting first baseman. Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer made predictions for the Winter Meetings now that Soto is off the market. He thinks the Yankees could sign first baseman Pete Alonso away from the Mets and trade for Bellinger. “His (Bellinger’s) left-handed stroke and Yankee Stadium’s short right field porch have long seemed right for each other.
According to Statcast, Bellinger would have hit six more home runs for the Yankees than he hit for the Chicago Cubs in 2024,” Rymer wrote. “The Yankees otherwise need someone with a bat-to-ball skill and the ability to play center field. Bellinger checks both boxes, plus a third as a sort of legacy admission.
His father, Clay, won World Series rings as a Yankee in 1999 and 2000.” The 2025 campaign will be the second of a three-year, $80 million deal Bellinger signed last spring. He can use his player option to re-enter free agency next winter or decide to opt into 2026 for $25 million.
