Who Will Sign Cody Bellinger to Contract? Mets Among Teams Eyeing Yankees Free Agent

After signing Juan Soto last offseason, the New York Mets reportedly are eyeing another New York Yankees free agent outfielder this year.

Per the New York Post's Jon Heyman, the Mets are among the teams interested in signing Cody Bellinger this winter, with "the only small negative" for New York being the fact that Bellinger is a lefty.

The Mets have been a popular candidate to land Bellinger this offseason as they look to get back into postseason form following a collapse in 2025. Pat Ragazzo of SI.com reported last week, "Don't be surprised if the Mets are heavily in on the versatile Cody Bellinger in free agency given their need for defense in both centerfield and at first base."

Bellinger has spent time at both first base and in the outfield, and his agent, Scott Boras, praised his versatility on Wednesday.

"When you look at '25, I'd say, among all the free agent outfielders, he was the top gun of the class," Boras said. "He was, defensively, a versatile viper in the outfield, playing both first base, all three outfield positions."

Bellinger is coming off a strong first season with the Yankees, collecting 160 hits, 29 home runs, 98 RBI, and 13 stolen bases. The former MVP also had a .814 OPS, the third-best of his nine-year career.

Bellinger has a $30.4 million annual market value, per Spotrac, and the Mets would seemingly be willing to pay that figure to lure the 30-year-old from the Bronx to Queens.

While Bellinger opted out of his contract with the Yankees, he hasn't ruled out a return. He said he would "absolutely" be open to another season with the team, adding that he had "an unbelievable time putting on this uniform."