The New York Yankees acquired outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger in a commerce with the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, persevering with to refill on high-end expertise within the wake of outfielder Juan Soto’s free agent defection to the New York Mets.
Chicago additionally despatched money concerns to New York, which shipped right-hander Cody Poteet to the Cubs to finish the deal.
Sources instructed ESPN that the Yankees will obtain $5 million to offset Bellinger’s wage — he’ll make $27.5 million in 2025 and has a participant possibility for $25 million in 2026. Chicago can pay $2.5 million to cowl a part of Bellinger’s $27.5 million wage this season. The remaining $2.5 million will both cowl the contract buyout if Bellinger doesn’t train his participant possibility or go towards his $25 million wage in 2026, in accordance with a supply.
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Bellinger, 29, is the 2019 Nationwide League MVP whose father, Clay, performed for the Yankees from 1999 to 2001. Bellinger’s return to kind after three substandard seasons got here in 2023 with the Cubs, and he agreed to a three-year, $80 million free agent contract with Chicago in March.
After hitting .266/.325/.426 with 18 house runs and 78 RBIs this yr, Bellinger declined to choose out of the remainder of his deal.
New York’s acquisition of Bellinger follows the free agent signing of left-handed starter Max Fried and the commerce for All-Star nearer Devin Williams. Coming off a World Collection loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Yankees have spent the week since Soto’s signing fortifying for one more run.
Bellinger’s versatility suits completely into holes in New York’s lineup. He’s an above-average heart fielder and may both play there or in left discipline if the Yankees choose to make use of rookie Jasson Dominguez in heart. Bellinger is also a high defensive first baseman, and although Anthony Rizzo’s free company opened the place, New York might go for an in-house possibility in Ben Rice or pursue Pete Alonso or Christian Walker in free company.
At his finest, Bellinger is a middle-of-the-lineup pressure whose bat-to-ball abilities ought to assist buttress the lack of Soto. When he gained the MVP as a 24-year-old in 2019, Bellinger hit .305/.406/.629 with 47 house runs. Over his eight-year profession, he has batted .259/.334/.484 with 196 house runs and 597 RBIs in 1,005 video games.
The Cubs had spent the winter searching for a commerce associate for Bellinger, seeking to unencumber payroll in hopes of bettering a crew that went 83-79 this yr. The groups spent important time haggling over the amount of cash the Cubs would come with in a possible deal.
In the end, they settled on the $5 million determine and the 30-year-old Poteet, who began 4 video games for the Yankees this yr. In 24â…“ innings, Poteet struck out 16, walked eight and posted a 2.22 ERA. In three main league seasons break up between beginning and relieving, Poteet has a 3.80 ERA with 69 strikeouts, 35 walks and 13 house runs allowed in 83 innings.
Additionally Tuesday, the Cubs despatched catcher Matt Thaiss to the Chicago White Sox for money concerns.
