Overview
- New York formally brought back Cody Bellinger on a five-year, $162.5 million contract, confirmed in a team media session.
- Reporting details a $20 million signing bonus and $32.5 million salaries in 2026 and 2027, with an opt-out after 2027; some outlets also cite a second opt-out and a full no-trade clause.
- Bellinger said he will skip the World Baseball Classic to focus on preparing for the 2026 season with the Yankees.
- GM Brian Cashman praised Bellinger as a defensive "Swiss army knife" across left field, center field, and first base, highlighting his left-handed bat for lineup balance.
- After posting a .272 average and .813 OPS with 29 homers, 98 RBI, and 5.1 WAR in 2025, analysts view the structure as a near-term push, noting his strong Yankee Stadium production such as a .909 OPS cited by SNY.