The New York Yankees are set to accumulate outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger and money from the Chicago Cubs for right-hander Cody Poteet, league sources confirmed to The Athletic on Tuesday.
Bellinger turns into the Yankees’ first vital offensive addition since dropping Juan Soto to the New York Mets in free company. In 2024, Bellinger posted a 109 wRC+, hitting 18 house runs and driving in 78 RBIs throughout 130 video games.
Poteet spot-started 4 video games for the Yankees in 2024 and posted strong outcomes, pitching to a 2.22 ERA and 4.03 FIP. He was not a part of the Yankees’ plans for both the beginning rotation or the bullpen in 2025. Poteet is a five-pitch pitcher, along with his main providing being a four-seam fastball that sits at 93 mph. At his finest, he may very well be a backend rotation starter or a middle-to-long reliever for the Cubs.
Before the Cubs traded for star outfielder Kyle Tucker, Bellinger’s agent, Scott Boras, hinted that Bellinger wouldn’t be caught off guard by a possible commerce, due to ongoing discussions with Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer. The Cubs had been motivated to maneuver Bellinger on account of his contract. He’s owed $27.5 million in 2025 and holds a $25 million participant choice for 2026 earlier than turning into a free agent in 2027.
To finalize the commerce, the Cubs will ship $5 million to the Yankees.
“Jed advised us that they’ve some roster configuration points that they’ve examined,” Boras stated on the Winter Meetings. “Cody and I’ve been speaking so much about it. Whenever the participant is on this state of affairs, there’s at all times an expectancy. But we additionally know that the place Cody’s at in his profession — the place his contract is — he’s going to be going to a really aggressive workforce if it occurs.”
Bellinger’s 2024 season noticed a step again from his 2023 marketing campaign, when he posted a 136 wRC+. His anticipated superior metrics extra carefully aligned along with his precise efficiency in 2024, in comparison with the earlier yr when he dramatically outperformed his anticipated numbers. In 2023, his .370 wOBA was considerably larger than his .327 xwOBA, making him one of many luckiest hitters in baseball by Statcast’s requirements. This season, nonetheless, his manufacturing was extra consistent with his anticipated stats, and he was barely above common general. There’s a danger his numbers may proceed to say no, as he nonetheless outperformed his anticipated metrics by a substantial margin in 2024.
Some of this danger may very well be mitigated by the truth that Bellinger’s swing is well-suited to Yankee Stadium’s house run-friendly setting for left-handed hitters. Bellinger’s uppercut swing, specifically, may assist him improve his house run whole by taking part in half of his video games within the Bronx. Statcast tasks that if Bellinger had performed all of 2024 at Yankee Stadium, he would have hit 24 house runs, in comparison with simply 15 at Wrigley Field. While this doesn’t assure a double-digit spike in house runs, it illustrates the potential upside he has in New York.
Bellinger completed within the 89th percentile in pulled fly ball price, and additional optimizing his swing may enhance his general manufacturing.
Bellinger additionally brings beneficial positional flexibility to the Yankees, which may finally be the place most of his worth lies. He’s able to taking part in any outfield place — which may permit Aaron Judge to maneuver again to proper subject, a place he’s extra comfy with. This may additionally open the door for rookie outfielder Jasson Domínguez to shift to middle subject as a substitute of left subject, a place he struggled with after his September call-up.
For the time being, a workforce supply indicated that the Yankees are conserving Bellinger’s main place versatile.
Bellinger’s versatility additionally offers supervisor Aaron Boone with extra choices. If Domínguez struggles on the plate or within the subject, Bellinger may take over in middle. Additionally, if Ben Rice emerges because the beginning first baseman and faces challenges, Bellinger can step in.
If Bellinger had been to play left subject or first base, even common offensive manufacturing can be a lift for the Yankees. Alex Verdugo had one of many worst offensive seasons in MLB in 2024, and the Yankees posted the bottom OPS at first base. Bellinger ought to characterize a big enchancment.
Defensively, Bellinger’s efficiency has slipped over the previous two years. If he had been to play left subject and take over for Verdugo, that place can be downgraded defensively; nonetheless, with Judge probably shifting to proper subject and Domínguez shifting to middle, the Yankees’ outfield as an entire may see an enchancment. Judge, who was amongst MLB’s worst defensive middle fielders in 2024, will profit from the place change, and Bellinger’s capability to cowl a number of spots may solidify the protection.
Additionally, Bellinger is a simpler base runner than each Verdugo and Soto, offering an added dynamic on the basepaths.
The Yankees have made a strong transfer by buying Bellinger, however they may want additional reinforcements to fill the void left by Soto’s departure and absolutely tackle their offensive wants.
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