Brian Cashman reiterated his want to maintain Cody Bellinger on Wednesday, as the final supervisor stated the Yankees are “very interested” in re-signing the free agent.
“Certainly, we’d be better served if we could retain him,” Cashman stated earlier than including, “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: of course, we’d like to have him back.”
Cashman, who spoke remotely over Zoom on account of a last-minute, non-baseball obligation with different heads of baseball ops in Las Vegas for the GM Conferences, provided these feedback when requested if Bellinger is the Yankees’ prime precedence this winter. It’s been broadly reported that the 30-year-old is after hitting .272/.334/.480 with 29 residence runs, 98 RBI, 13 stolen bases and a 125 wRC+ this previous season, his first with the Bombers after being traded by the Cubs in a wage dump final winter.
After the Yankees had been bounced from the playoffs by the Blue Jays within the ALDS, Bellinger stated he would “absolutely” be serious about returning to the pinstripers, who employed his father, Clay, from 1999-2001.
“I had an unbelievable time putting on this uniform,” added Bellinger, who turned down a $25 million participant possibility. “Yankee Stadium, the fans, the organization, the culture that these guys have created in this locker room, it really is special. It’s such a fun group. It was a fun group to be a part of.”
Cashman stated the Yankees and Bellinger are nonetheless within the early phases of the 2019 MVP’s free company course of. Nonetheless, Bellinger’s agent, Scott Boras, stated Wednesday that he’s already spoken to the Yanks about his shopper.
Boras touted Bellinger as “the only five-tool free agent outfielder.” It was a not-so-subtle nod to Kyle Tucker, the higher total participant and costlier free agent, however a lesser defender within the nook outfield spots in comparison with Bellinger.
Boras, an enormous fan of puns, additionally made a number of “Top Gun” references when discussing Bellinger, calling the put-him-anywhere outfielder and rare first baseman a “versatile viper” on protection, a “middle-of-the-lineup Merlin,” an “Iceman” who “cooled” issues over who would hit behind Aaron Decide, and an “urban maverick” as a result of he’s had success in baseball’s three greatest markets: Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.
Boras added that Bellinger loved his time within the Bronx this previous season.
“I just think the whole dynamic suited him and suited them,” the consultant stated. “It was really an ideal fit.”
Nonetheless, Bellinger will discuss to different suitors. With Boras stating that the veteran needs to play for a contender, the Blue Jays, Mets and Dodgers, Bellinger’s authentic staff, may make sense, amongst others. Wherever Tucker finally ends up — it’s unclear the place the Yankees stand on the 28-year-old, who may make over $350 million — may affect the place Bellinger goes.
One issue that shouldn’t impression Bellinger and a possible reunion with the Yankees is Trent Grisham’s one-year qualifying supply, which is price simply over $22 million.
Grisham, coming off a profession yr with the Yankees, has till Nov. 18 to just accept or reject the supply. If he rejects it and indicators elsewhere, the Yankees will get draft decide compensation.
If Grisham accepts, the Yankees could be caught with a high-priced wage as rumors swirl that Hal Steinbrenner wish to preserve the staff’s payroll underneath $300 million. Nonetheless, Cashman stated he hasn’t gotten an “ultimate” quantity, and that payroll “usually is not an issue” for his membership.
Cashman additionally stated the Yankees had been “comfortable” extending the qualifying supply to Grisham in a “thin outfield market” and that him probably accepting it wouldn’t prohibit negotiations with Bellinger, who ought to command a nine-figure deal.
“We’d be happy if [Grisham] accepted and came back,” Cashman stated. “If we get a call at some point that he accepts, our conversations with Scott Boras on Bellinger will continue, and we’ll see where that takes us. And if [Grisham] rejects, we’ll be talking to both Grisham and Bellinger regardless, and then we’ll continue keeping an eye on the guys we have from within.”
Whereas neither performed the place nicely based on superior metrics final yr, Bellinger and Grisham are able to manning middle area. If the Yankees don’t retain at the least one among them, they’ll have restricted exterior choices in the course of the outfield.
Former Yankee Harrison Bader and Cedric Mullins are among the many greatest free agent choices, whereas the White Sox may make Luis Robert Jr. out there after two down seasons.
The Yankees do have yet one more inner possibility for middle in prime prospect Spencer Jones, however his excessive strikeout and poor contact charges include issues, even after a monstrous season cut up between Double-A and Triple-A.
Cashman volunteered that Jones has been understanding at Yankee Stadium after placing a request in to the staff, and he’ll head to Tampa later this offseason forward of spring coaching.
Cashman additionally famous that Jasson Domínguez is taking part in winter ball in his native Dominican Republic — the Escogido Baseball Membership is meant to activate The Martian subsequent week — however the Yankees contemplate the restricted defender a left fielder regardless of primarily taking part in middle within the minors.
Domínguez and/or Jones may impression the Yankees’ outfield in 2026, relying on how this offseason performs out. Then once more, they might additionally change into commerce chips.
“We could lose both Grisham and Bellinger to free agency,” Cashman acknowledged, “and then it puts a lot more stress and pressure on those internal options. If one of those guys comes back, it creates nice competition. If both come back, then maybe it creates trade flexibility.”
