The Yankees’ acquisition of Cody Bellinger highlights their commitment to an aggressive offseason strategy aimed at strengthening the team.
New York: The Yankees just made a big move by trading for Cody Bellinger. If you’re not comparing him to Juan Soto, there’s a lot to like about this deal.
Bellinger is a left-handed power hitter, which is perfect for Yankee Stadium. He can really balance out a lineup that tends to lean right.
Plus, he’s versatile. He can play center field and has the skills to be a solid first baseman too. He’s not even 30 yet, and the Yankees have him for two years, with an option to leave after 2025.
And here’s a fun twist: his dad, Clay, played for the Yankees and has two World Series rings. Fans are hoping Cody can follow in his dad’s footsteps.
A scout said he’s excited about the trade. Bellinger has an MVP under his belt and is still a young athlete. Playing alongside Aaron Judge could really boost his performance.
The Yankees see Bellinger as their center fielder, which lets them move Judge back to right field. This could help keep Judge fresh and improve their defense.
In the trade, the Yankees got Bellinger and $5 million from the Cubs, giving up Cody Poteet, a righty who had a solid season but missed time due to injury.
It’s a win for the Yankees since they didn’t have to give up much from their farm system. The Cubs were eager to unload Bellinger’s contract, which could be worth $52.5 million over two years.
Is it a perfect trade? Not really. Bellinger had a rough patch after being a top slugger, but he bounced back last season with a solid performance in Chicago.
He’s got a great resume, including a World Series win and multiple awards. In 2017, he even broke the rookie home run record.
Statcast shows he could thrive at Yankee Stadium, suggesting he would’ve hit more home runs there last season. Scouts agree he’s a good fit for the park.
While Bellinger isn’t Soto, this trade is part of the Yankees’ plan to move forward this offseason. They’ve also added pitchers like Max Fried and Devin Williams.
There’s still work to do, like finding a second or third baseman, but they’re making moves and it’s catching people’s attention.
One scout noted how impressive their strategy has been. They had a backup plan ready when Soto didn’t work out, and they’re not done yet.