Yankees' Contract Offer to Cody Bellinger Reportedly Revealed, Latest Rumors on MLB FA

The New York Yankees are reportedly interested in bringing back Cody Bellinger but not for the amount of years the free agent is looking for this offseason.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Monday that "a disagreement over the length of the deal is still a sticky enough issue that both parties also continue to investigate alternate plans."

According to Heyman, New York offered the 30-year-old a five-year deal worth approximately $155 million. However, he is looking for a seven-year deal, which means the Yankees are also looking into Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker as possible other options in free agency.

That New York would be hesitant to give the veteran a full seven years isn't surprising, as his production has been inconsistent for much of his career.

He was among the best players in the league when he took home the National League Rookie of the Year in 2017 and the National League MVP in 2019 as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He slashed .305/.406/.629 with 47 home runs, 115 RBI and 15 stolen bases during that MVP campaign.

Yet his numbers fell off dramatically the next three seasons from 2020 to 2022 with a per-year average of a .203/.272/.376 slash line, 13.7 home runs, 44.7 RBI and 7.7 stolen bases, per Baseball Reference.

The shortened 2020 campaign partially explained the lack of power numbers, but he still hit 10 homers in 2021 and 19 in 2022.

Yet Bellinger bounced back in 2023 for the Chicago Cubs as a Silver Slugger winner with 26 home runs and 97 RBI just for him to take another step back in 2024 for Chicago with 18 home runs and 78 RBI.

Yankee Stadium and its short porch in right field seemed to suit him last season, though, as he slashed .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs, 98 RBI and 13 stolen bases. His 5.1 wins above replacement stat was the highest mark of his career outside of his MVP campaign, and he was a driving force in New York's playoff appearance.

Those numbers were well-timed ahead of free agency, but it seems like the team's front office doesn't believe they are worth a seven-year deal.

Perhaps the two sides will come to terms on some type of resolution, especially if the Yankees are able to land him for less money than Tucker or Bichette would cost.