The Yankees have reportedly completed the move that was seemingly months in the making.
According to multiple reports, the Bombers have signed Cody Bellinger to a five-year, $162.5 million contact. According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the deal includes opt-outs after years two and three of the deal, unless there is a strike in 2027. In that case, they would be pushed back a year.
The deal also includes a $20 million signing bonus.
Bellinger was seen as the Yankees’ main target of the offseason after a successful debut in pinstripes in 2025. Acquired by the Cubs for Cody Poteet in what was essentially a salary dump for Chicago, Bellinger hit .272 with 29 home runs, his largest total since his MVP season with the Dodgers in 2019. Bellinger also gave the Yankees valuable versatility in the outfield, and he could even see some time at first base in 2026 if the Yanks need.
Bellinger is not the MVP he was with LA, but he has posted an OPS+ north of 110 in each of the past three seasons following a rough two-year stretch to complete his Dodgers tenure.
Negotiations dragged on for months with Bellinger, and there were concerns the rival Blue Jays or the crosstown Mets could swoop in following their failed pursuit of Kyle Tucker, but once the Mets traded for Luis Robert Jr., the Yanks were seemingly one of the only logical destinations remaining, and the deal was completed shortly after. Bellinger seemed to want the Yanks all along, and now the Yanks can shift their focus to beefing up the starting rotation and the bullpen and build upon what had been a very quiet offseason before the Bellinger deal.