The Yankees’ attempt to fill the void left by Juan Soto took a hit on Friday. Houston traded outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Cubs, leaving the Yankees searching to upgrade their offensive options. Tucker could’ve been a perfect fit for the Bronx Bombers given his speed, power, and defensive combination but they were not willing to include AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil in the deal.
However, the Cubs acquiring Tucker could pave the way for Cody Bellinger to move to the Yankees, which holds sentimental value for the player. Cody’s father, Clay Bellinger, played for the Yankees back in 1999-2001, but there are some roadblocks for a deal to be finalized.
With two more years remaining in his contract with the Cubs, Cody Bellinger is guaranteed to be paid at least $52 million, which also includes his $25 million opt-out deal with the Cubs. Even though both clubs are on the same page with trading Bellinger, his salary is proving to be an issue.
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As per the New York Post’s Peter Botte, the Yankees are pushing the Cubs for some discount on Bellinger’s salary. Bellinger signed a three-year, $80 million contract with the Cubs, that included the $27.5 million player option for 2025 and a $25 million one for 2026. This means the Yankees are looking at a sum of $52.5 million to pay for Bellinger’s services over the next two years and hence are looking at the Cubs for some sort of concession.
But the Cubs aren’t quite interested in meeting that demand yet, partly because of the Kyle Tucker trade. On top of that, the team’s payroll remains at a level they don’t seem comfortable being at—according to Roster Resource, the Cubs are expected to have a payroll of around $199 million in 2025. While that’s below the $241 million tax slab, the Cubs’ flexibility is rather limited. Naturally, removing the salary of Bellinger from books could prove to be a big boon for them.
While the negotiations are ongoing, both sides are believed to be more than $10 million apart on an agreement, according to Botte’s report. NY Post’s Jon Heyman also reported that the two franchises are working on a trade but the negotiations have hit a snag for his pending salary. “The hang-up was about money, with the Cubs asking the Yankees to take on nearly the full $52.5M Bellinger’s due over the next couple years, and the Yankees expecting more cash coming back.”
But after losing Soto to the Mets and missing out on Tucker, the Yankees can hardly afford to face the same fate with Bellinger. The left-handed hitter can play both center field and first base and will allow them to move Aaron Judge back to right after Soto’s departure. Even though his injury concerns, which have affected his MLB career, could be a downside, at 29 he could be a perfect investment for the Yankees and his talent is undeniable.
A former MVP and two-time All-Star, he has the credentials to make it big in New York. Bellinger would reduce the uncertain nature of the Yankees lineup and though he is not on Soto’s level offensively, he offers flexibility in defense.
If a deal is to happen it could largely depend on how much of Bellinger’s salary, the New York Yankees are forced to cover. On the other hand, if the Cubs agree to pay the majority of his due compensation, there is a chance we could see a few players move in the opposite direction.
It is already reported that the Yankees are willing to trade No. 5 prospect Will Warren to bring Bellinger to the other side, but if the Cubs pay most of Bellinger’s salary, expect more names to follow Warren to Wrigley Field.
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But why are the Yankees, who were willing to pay Soto $760 million for a seven-year contract, stalling over Bellinger’s salary?
The ongoing hustle to stay ahead of the competition
Until the beginning of the offseason, these talks over trades and free agencies will obviously go on. The Yankees are on the move to balance off their team by shifting Aaron Judge to right field. Another eight-year deal was also signed with Max Fried while showing a keen interest in poaching Pete Alonso from the Mets after they did the same with Juan Soto.
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However, all of these signings are bound to become a costly affair. In 2024, the Bronx Bombers had a payroll of $303 million. And as of now, the team is already over the $241 million tax slab. Perhaps that’s why they’re not interested in taking over all of Cody Bellinger’s salary; one can’t deny some big holes need to be filled within the team. Certainly, Bellinger could be the answer to this question—he’s almost perfect for the Yankee Stadium, but the star is coming off a relatively down year after his remarkable 2023.
This is after his disastrous 2020-2022 run, which suddenly makes 2023 look like an anomaly instead of a proper comeback. So, while the Yankees are interested, they are also a little hesitant, and who’d blame them? They’ve just faced a major embarrassment and need to quickly show that they can prosper even without Juan Soto.