Yankees Offer Cody Bellinger $30M+ AAV as Talks Stall

The New York Yankees have landed in the offseason spotlight again, this time for their full-throttle pursuit of free-agent outfielder Cody Bellinger. Contract talks are heating up, and the Bronx Bombers seem ready to spend big to keep a key piece while juggling risk and their championship push.

Yankees Make Their Move on Cody Bellinger

Multiple sources say the Yankees put a serious multi-year offer on the table for Bellinger. The average annual value sits north of $30 million, which would put Bellinger in rare company among outfielders like Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, Mike Trout and Mookie Betts.

No one’s shocked by the team’s interest. Yankees officials have made it clear internally—they want Bellinger in pinstripes. They love his steady defense in left field and the way he protects Judge in the lineup.

In a group that leans right-handed, Bellinger’s lefty bat adds some much-needed balance.

Production That Commands Attention

Bellinger, now 30, just wrapped up a strong season that reminded everyone why he’s one of the most complete outfielders on the market. He posted a .272 average, 29 home runs, 98 RBIs, and 5.1 WAR, which got him a 14th-place finish in the AL MVP voting.

That kind of production gives the Yankees a steadying force in a lineup that’s been up and down. His two-way impact fits perfectly with their current win-now mindset, especially with Judge as the anchor.

The Contract Standoff: Years vs. Value

The annual salary is elite, but the real sticking point is contract length. Bellinger’s camp wants a seven-year deal, leaning on recent market deals for power hitters as support.

Market Comparisons Fuel Negotiations

Bellinger’s representatives highlight contracts like Pete Alonso’s five-year, $155 million deal and Kyle Schwarber’s $150 million pact to show that long-term commitments still make sense for sluggers in their 30s.

The Yankees have some leverage too. Teams around the league have hesitated to commit long-term to Bellinger, especially after his non-tender from the Dodgers in 2022 and the shorter deals with the Cubs.

New York could argue that it’s smarter to manage risk than to simply chase star power.

Boras, Free Agency and the Bigger Picture

Bellinger opted out of his deal’s final year in November, right after a trade to the Yankees that mostly looked like a salary dump. New York took on most of his previous contract, setting up a competitive free-agent market for him.

Multiple Suitors, Strategic Patience

Super-agent Scott Boras says eight teams are interested. That’s a familiar move from Boras, who’s made a career out of getting big deals for veteran outfielders.

The Yankees’ willingness to cross the $30 million AAV line really puts them in the driver’s seat. That’s not something you see every day, even from New York.

Meanwhile, the Yankees have checked in on free-agent infielder Bo Bichette. Their own evaluations, though, don’t love his defense for their needs.

Otherwise, it’s been a pretty quiet offseason in the Bronx. They’ve mostly re-signed role players and added some bullpen depth, still poking around for a rotation upgrade.

Young outfielders like Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones are waiting for their shot. The Yankees have to figure out how much to spend on the present without blocking those guys down the road.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Yankees offer Cody Bellinger more than $30M a year, but gap remains in talks: Sources