Surely that can’t occur again?
The New York Yankees’ crosstown rivals, the New York Mets, defeated them in the Juan Soto sweepstakes last winter. Many found Soto’s departure shocking after he guided the Yankees to their first World Series berth in 15 years.
Although Cody Bellinger is not Juan Soto, he was essentially the Yankees’ game-changing strategy to bolster their outfield, and it has worked. The outfield has flourished all season thanks to Bellinger, superstar Aaron Judge, and Trent Grisham, who was acquired as a throw-in in the Yankees’ Soto trade with the San Diego Padres.
Bellinger has an opt-out option that allows him to avoid the last season of his three-year, $80 million contract, so he will now be eligible for free agency. And according to one insider, lightning might strike twice.
The Yankees and Mets were the only two teams that New York Post writer Jon Heyman believed would be a good match for Bellinger out of the many free agents he picked his best fits for on Thursday.
“At age 30, (Bellinger is) hitting the market a third time, but the Yankees look like a great marriage,” said Heyman.
The Yankees have had a lot of versatility this season because to Bellinger’s ability to play first base and all three outfield spots. That versatility must appeal to the Mets, who have been struggling to find center field output all season and are getting ready for the free agency of first baseman Pete Alonso.
A 128 OPS+ and 27 home runs (his most since that MVP season) might have several clubs interested in the 30-year-old Bellinger, who may not be among the game’s most powerful hitters as he was when he was named the National League Most Valuable Player in 2019.
