Cody Bellinger, Yankees Reportedly Agree to Contract, Who Are Top Remaining MLB Free Agents?

After spending the 2025 season with the New York Yankees, veteran outfielder Cody Bellinger will be donning Pinstripes for five more years.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, Bellinger re-signed with the Yankees on a five-year contract on Wednesday. The Athletic's Brendan Kuty added that the deal is worth $162.5 million with no deferrals. Bellinger had tested free agency after opting out of the final year of his previous contract, which would've paid him $25 million in 2026.

Jon Heyman of The New York Post reported a breakdown of Bellinger's yearly salaries:

With Bellinger off the board, some of the top free-agent hitters remaining include third baseman Eugenio Suárez, outfielder Harrison Bader and infielder Luis Arraez, per B/R's Joel Reuter.

ESPN's Buster Olney reported earlier this month that there was a "sizable gap" between the Yankees and Bellinger's camp in contract negotiations, but the two sides were eventually able to get a deal done.

The Yankees acquired Bellinger last offseason in a trade with the Chicago Cubs, hoping to replace star outfielder Juan Soto after he signed with the New York Mets. The 2019 National League MVP was a revelation, bouncing back from a lackluster 2024 campaign with the Cubs.

In 152 games in 2025, Bellinger was one of New York's most productive hitters, batting .272 with 29 home runs and 98 RBI. His 160 hits ranked second on the team behind star slugger Aaron Judge, and his 29 homers were his most since hitting 47 in his 2019 MVP season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His defense in the outfield was also a much-needed improvement over Soto, who is known for being average in the field.

The Yankees tied for the best record in the AL East at 94-68 but ranked second due to the Toronto Blue Jays owning the tiebreaker. After defeating the rival Boston Red Sox in the AL Wild Card Series, New York couldn't get past Toronto in the ALDS, losing in four games.

Retaining Bellinger gives the Yankees a veteran presence in the outfield alongside Judge as they try to return to the World Series in 2026. After turning 30 in July, Bellinger is still in the prime of his career, and he will undoubtedly be motivated to help New York earn its first title since 2009.