Cody Bellinger has earned himself some money this season.
The New York Yankees brought Bellinger in on a contract that has a player option for next season worth $25 million, but he's outplayed that.
Bellinger can likely get a multi-year deal in free agency worth that much per year.
MLB Trade Rumors writer Steve Adams shared Saturday that he believes Bellinger can get $100 million in total value.
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Here's how Adams broke it down in his new free agent power rankings, in which he has Bellinger ranked No. 5 in all of MLB:
Bellinger looked lost at the plate from 2021-22 while returning from shoulder surgery, but this is his third straight strong year with the bat. He entered play Wednesday slashing .276/.328/.496 with 20 homers and 10 steals. Bellinger has continually whittled away at his strikeout rate in recent years, to the point that he’s now one of the toughest strikeouts in the sport, sitting at just 12.9%. He doesn’t post the type of gaudy exit velocity numbers toward which today’s front offices gravitate, but he’s been a consistently above-average hitter for three years now despite a middling quality-of-contact profile.
The Yankees have used Bellinger across all three outfield positions and at first base. He’s graded out roughly average in center but is a plus in either outfield corner. Bellinger has only played 19 innings at first base this season, but he received strong grades when he played 431 innings there for the 2023 Cubs (+5 DRS, +1 OAA).
Bellinger holds a $25MM player option for the 2026 season. It comes with a $5MM buyout that he’ll receive if he declines. Even if it were a true $25MM decision rather than a net $20MM decision, Bellinger would easily turn the option down. He can’t receive a qualifying offer this time around, and despite how many straight offseasons he’s been a fixture on the free agent market, he’ll play the bulk of next season at just 30 years of age.
Bellinger would only be 35 at the completion of a five-year deal or 36 after a six-year pact. An annual salary north of $20MM for a 30-year-old corner outfielder who’s posted a .283/.337/.481 slash in nearly 1600 plate appearances since 2023 — particularly one who can capably handle center field or first base — should be attainable, which means Bellinger has a real chance to sign for more than $100MM on the open market this time around.
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Since Bellinger broke through young, it does feel like he's older than he is. He's currently three years younger than Aaron Judge.
His defensive versatility is a big plus for anyone who wants to sign him, too. He can play all the outfield spots and first base, all at a solid level.
The Yankees should want Bellinger back, if they can make the money work. But there will be plenty of other teams seeking his signature, too.
Bellinger has the potential to be one of the most crucial signings of the offseason, and where he ends up will be one very happy team.
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