Get ready for some baseball excitement as the New York Yankees aim to boost their team for the 2024 season. But there’s a twist: Cody Bellinger, a sought-after player, might be too expensive for the Yankees. They want him on their team, but talks are slow due to his asking price of over $250 million. The team is also considering trading for Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres. With the Yankees facing scoring troubles last season, adding powerful hitters like Bellinger and Soto could be the key to turning things around. Let’s dive into the baseball buzz!
Yankees Eyeing Cody Bellinger In Major Move
In their quest for excellence, the Yankees are interested in signing center fielder Cody Bellinger. But talks are stuck because Bellinger is asking for a lot of money—more than $250 million, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. Bellinger said no to a big offer from the Chicago Cubs. If the Yankees sign him, they would need to give up a future draft pick. Even with the financial challenges, adding Bellinger’s strong hitting to their lineup is still something the Yankees want.
The Yankees are not putting all their hopes in one move. They’re also talking with the San Diego Padres about bringing three-time All-Star Juan Soto on board. This move could bring in a powerful left-handed hitter, fixing some of the team’s problems with scoring runs last season. Looking back at the 2023 season, the Yankees had a tough time scoring. Injuries to key players made it even harder, and the team had its lowest run total in a season since 2014. To fix this, the team is actively looking for new players to strengthen their offense.
While negotiations with Bellinger are ongoing, everyone’s wondering how he might help the team. After not doing so well following his fantastic 2019 season, Bellinger found his groove with the Chicago Cubs. In 2023, he batted .307, hit 26 home runs, and got 97 RBIs, showing he can make a big difference in a team’s offense. Bellinger alone might not solve all the Yankees’ scoring problems, but having him and superstar Aaron Judge in the lineup could be a powerful combination. The big question is whether the Yankees and Bellinger can agree on a fair contract.
The Waiting Game For Bellinger
As everyone waits for the next big baseball move, USA Today thinks Bellinger might be one of the last big-name players to sign a deal. This delay is because there aren’t many top players available in free agency right now. Teams are also busy trying to sign players like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobi Yamamoto. The wait might be because Bellinger is asking for more than $250 million. But it’s also because of how the market is right now and the ongoing efforts to sign other top players. The hope is that once things settle down with these other players, teams will turn their attention to Bellinger.
Bellinger had a great year with the Cubs in 2023, winning a Silver Slugger. This success came after two tough seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he struggled to perform well due to injuries. In the world of baseball decisions, the New York Yankees are at a critical point. Trying to balance getting top players like Cody Bellinger with the uncertainty of the free-agent market, the Yankees’ choices in the coming weeks will shape their outfield and impact their goal of scoring big in the much-anticipated 2024 season. As the Winter Meetings unfold, everyone is eagerly watching to see the moves that will define the New York Yankees’ pursuit of success.
