The transforming of the post-Juan Soto Yankees took one other vital step Tuesday, after they acquired former MVP Cody Bellinger from the Cubs, The Post confirmed.
The long-anticipated commerce offers the Yankees potential replacements within the outfield and infield. Bellinger can play heart — permitting the Yankees to maneuver Aaron Judge again to proper if they want — and he can play first base, the place there’s a emptiness following Anthony Rizzo’s departure.
Bellinger, 29, has two years and $52.5 million remaining on his contract, which comes with a $25 million participant choice for 2026 that may be purchased out for $5 million.
In alternate for Bellinger and $5 million to offset his price ticket, the Yankees despatched right-hander Cody Poteet to Chicago.
The transfer got here after Soto, the Yankees’ No. 1 precedence of the offseason, spurned them and signed a 15-year, $765 million cope with the Mets.
The Yankees lastly acquired Bellinger, the 2019 NL MVP with the Dodgers, after the Cubs landed Kyle Tucker — one other Yankee goal — from Houston in a deal final week.
Bellinger’s father, Clay, performed elements of three seasons for the Yankees, together with for the World Series title groups in 1999 and 2000.
Since dropping out on Soto, the Yankees have added Max Fried on an eight-year, $218 million free agent deal, traded with Milwaukee for nearer Devin Williams and now picked up Bellinger, whose defensive versatility permits them to both go after one other outfielder or first baseman.
The Yankees have proven curiosity in free-agent choices at first base, together with Pete Alonso, Christian Walker and Carlos Santana, whereas Josh Bell and Paul Goldschmidt additionally stay obtainable.
Given the wealth of accessible first basemen — an inventory that additionally contains potential commerce targets similar to Cleveland’s Josh Naylor, Texas’ Nathaniel Lowe and Tampa Bay’s Yandy Diaz — Bellinger appears extra more likely to play heart.
If Bellinger leads to the outfield, Judge may transfer again to proper, however even with Bellinger’s energy from the left facet, there’s no manner he and Judge can replicate the once-in-a-generation 1-2 punch Judge and Soto did this previous season.
With the acquisition of Bellinger, the Yankees are betting on him going again to his 2023 manufacturing, when he had an .881 OPS and 139 OPS-plus with the Cubs, his finest marks for the reason that ’19 MVP season.
His numbers slipped final yr, as a part of what’s been an up-and-down profession, which started with a 39-homer, Rookie of the Year marketing campaign in 2017.
Bellinger underwent shoulder surgical procedure after the 2020 season and struggled by way of a horrific 2021 and an unsightly ’22 earlier than being non-tendered by the Dodgers and signing with the Cubs.
Now he’ll be a part of a Yankee crew that rode a lineup led by Judge and Soto to the AL East title and their first World Series look since 2009.
Once Soto departed for Queens, it was clear the Yankees would look a lot totally different transferring ahead, particularly with the departures of Rizzo, Gleyber Torres and Alex Verdugo, as effectively.
As GM Brian Cashman famous final week, the Yankees had but to choose up a place participant.
That modified Tuesday, however second base additionally nonetheless must be addressed — except Jazz Chisholm Jr. strikes over to the best facet of the infield, which opens up third base — and Jasson Dominguez figures to get his first shot at incomes an on a regular basis job within the outfield after a disappointing 2023 season coming off Tommy John surgical procedure.
“The job isn’t completed right here,” Cashman mentioned final week. “We’ve acquired to maneuver ahead and determine a technique to put one of the best crew on paper that we will. Now’s the time to strike within the wintertime with the stock we’ve by way of trades or free company. Eventually that stock goes to get quite a bit smaller. … We wish to reap the benefits of that chance.”
— Additional reporting by Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman
