Cody Bellinger Will Be a Good Fit For The Yankees

The New York Yankees have acquired outfielder-first baseman Cody Bellinger from the Chicago Cubs for pitcher Cody Poteet and cash considerations. 

The Cubs practically gave Bellinger away after signing him to 3-year contract extension worth $80 million. 

There was a time when Bellinger was arguably the best offensive player in MLB. 

The son of former MLB pitcher Clay Bellinger, the younger Bellinger was a 4th round draft pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013. In 2017, Bellinger earned NL Rookie of the Year honors. In 2019, Bellinger won NL MVP honors hitting .305 with 47 HR and 115 RBI while also earning a Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove.

But by 2021, injuries caught up to Bellinger. Calf, hamstring and rib injuries limited Bellinger to 95 games in which he hit a paltry .165 with 10 HR and 36 RBI. While healthy for most of the 2022 season, Bellinger didn't get much better hitting .210 with 19 HR and 68 RBI. One could make a case that he had some decent production, but it was quite a fall from where he had been. The Dodgers simply gave up on Bellinger. 

Bellinger would sign with the Cubs prior to the 2023 season and rebounded significantly hitting nearly 100 points higher at .307 along with 26 HR and 97 RBI as well as a career high 20 stolen bases earning a second Silver Slugger while finishing 10th in NL MVP balloting. For good measure, Bellinger was also named 2023 NL Comeback Player of the Year. Unfortunately, Bellinger took a step back in 2024 hitting .266 with 18 HR and 78 RBI. Bellinger could have opted out of his contract but decided to stay. At which point, the Cubs decided Bellinger had to go. 

Bellinger enters 2025 with 942 hits in 1,005 games for a lifetime batting average of .259 with 196 HR and 597 RBI. In joining the Yankees, Bellinger, 29, succeeds Juan Soto. Soto is now the player Bellinger was five years ago. Yet I think Bellinger can be that player again. Bellinger is going to see a lot of good pitches hitting behind Aaron Judge and will enjoy the short right field porch in Yankee Stadium. 

Who knows? If there is a Yankees-Dodgers rematch in the 2025 World Series perhaps it will be Bellinger who tips the scales in favor of the Bronx Bombers.