By Jackson RobertsShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberCody Bellinger's first year with the New York Yankees was so good that it's hard to believe it could be his last.
In 152 games as a Yankee, Bellinger put up 29 home runs, an .813 OPS, and 5.1 wins above replacement. Center fielder Trent Grisham's return slightly complicates matters, but the Yankees started Bellinger in left field next to Grisham all postseason, so there's no reason why they shouldn't feel comfortable running that back.
However, there's one very simple reason why the Yankees might not bring Bellinger back now that he's opted out of the final year on the deal he originally signed with the Chicago Cubs. And it's a reason a lot of Yankees fans would reject on principle.
...On Sunday, MLB.com Yankees beat reporter Bryan Hoch named the reasons why Bellinger might and might not re-sign with the clubs, and his No. 1 reason for concern, from Yankees fans' perspective, was that New York could consider its budget stretched too thin to keep up with Bellinger's market value.
"The Yankees say they have limits, and if a club steps up with more years or greater financial commitment, it would not be a surprise to see (Bellinger) move on," wrote Hoch.
"Scott Boras rarely moves quickly, and this negotiation has all the signs of one that stretches into December while multiple teams jockey for position. The Yankees also have needs in other areas, and they figure to have plenty of competition for a player with left-handed pop and a plus defender who can handle center field. It might take the highest bid to bring Bellinger back."
Last week, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said it would be "ideal" to pay less for the Yankees roster than the $319 million the team spent last year, per ESPN's Jorge Castillo. New York's projected luxury tax payroll after arbitration salaries is currently just over $280 million, per Spotrac.
If Bellinger's market reaches the $30-35 million per year range, will a time come when New York gracefully bows out? If so, the notion of the "Evil Empire" won't apply to the Yankees for quite some time.
More MLB: Blue Jays Could Cut Ties with Promising 26-Year-Old: Insider
Request Reprint & LicensingSubmit CorrectionView Editorial & AI Guidelines
Add Newsweek as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.Recommended For You
MLBDodgers Linked to KBO Star in Unexpected Free Agency Move3 min read
MLBPhillies Projected To Sign Star Slugger To Huge 7-Year, $140 Million Deal2 min read
MLBRed Sox Could Cut Ties With All-Star In Offseason Trade: Insider2 min read
MLBRed Sox Projected To Sign Star To 3-Year, $66M Deal After Sonny Gray Trade2 min read
MLBMets Projected To Sign All-Star To 4-Year, $80M Deal After Dominant Season2 min read
MLBPhillies Star Pitcher Projected To Sign Huge 5-Year, $110M Deal With Tigers2 min readRelated Podcasts
Top Stories
PoliticsKristi Noem Says National Guard Shooter Was ‘Radicalized’ in the US5 min read
WorldVenezuela Hits Back After Donald Trump Announces Airspace Closure4 min read
PoliticsTrump ‘Wouldn’t Have Wanted’ Second Strike on Venezuela Boat4 min read
NewsThousands of Flights Delayed, Hundreds Canceled as Winter Storm Lashes US3 min read
NewsDonald Trump Has Taken Prince Harry’s Crown8 min read
NewsTrump Administration Launches ‘Media Offender of the Week’ Tracker4 min readTrending
WeatherWinter Storm Warning As 13 Inches of Snow To Strike: ‘Extreme Caution’3 min read
Donald TrumpMap Shows Donald Trump’s Approval Rating in Each State After 10 Months4 min read
NcaaNick Saban Has Harsh Message for Ole Miss Amid Lane Kiffin Decision3 min read
AldiAldi Recall Update: Customers Told Discard Christmas Products ‘Immediately’3 min read
NWSWinter Storm Warning as 8 Inches of Snow to Hit North and Midwest3 min readOpinion
OpinionRedefining Professional Degrees Will Hurt Everyday Americans | Opinion5 min read
OpinionAI Is Coming for Our Most Intimate Communications. Congress Must Act | Opinion5 min read
OpinionConventional Wisdom: The Thanksgiving Tragedies Edition3 min read
OpinionConventional Wisdom: The Anti-Thanksgiving Edition3 min read
OpinionHow to Remain Grounded and Thankful Amid the Chaos5 min read
