DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 17: A detailed view of the Oakley sunglasses and custom MLB Players’ Weekend baseball hat used by Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees during the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on August 17, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Yankees 4-0. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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Patrick McAvoy

By Patrick McAvoy

Contributing Sports Writer

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Will the New York Yankees find a way to bring Cody Bellinger back to town for the 2026 season?

After the season that he had in 2025, it absolutely would make sense to do so. Bellinger played in 152 games for the Yankees in 2025 and slashed .272/.334/.480 with 29 homers, 98 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases. With Juan Soto out the door, Bellinger was a near-perfect replacement to pair with Aaron Judge. Now, there aren't many players like Soto out there, but the Yankees' offense didn't experience a significant drop-off in part because of Bellinger's play.

Now, Bellinger is a free agent after he opted out of his deal with New York. He should have a healthy market and CBS Sports' R.J. Anderson tabbed him as the sixth-best available free agent and predicted that he will ink a five-year, $125 million deal.

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BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 21: Cody Bellinger #35 of the New York Yankees runs back to dug out between innings during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 21, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

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"No. 6. OF/1B Cody Bellinger," Anderson said. "Bellinger is another polarizing free-agent profile. There's no denying he's found a formula that works for him. It may not work as well in every ballpark as it did at Yankee Stadium, however, and it's hard to forget that he had a stretch where he was nearly unplayable. I could see this estimate being wrong in either direction, and I have a feeling whatever deal he signs will feature a far more convoluted structure than I want to delve into for this exercise. Prediction: Five years, $125 million ($25 million AAV)."

Bellinger is just 30 years old. If the Yankees could get him on a five-year deal with a $25 million annual value, that would be a win. He had 5.1 wins above replacement in 2025. That's not easy to replace.

There are some crazy contracts out there, like what Soto got from the New York Mets. Getting Bellinger on a deal like this arguably would be a better long-term value.

More MLB: Yankees Predicted To Reunite With Ace From Juan Soto Trade

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