Is Bellinger's 2025 Slump Steering Him Toward a Contract Reset?
After a red-hot spring that had fans and scouts talking about a potential bounce-back season and Yankees legend Tino Martinez predicting a monster year, Cody Bellinger has cooled off considerably. According to The Bergen Record's Pete Caldera, the veteran outfielder's first quarter with the New York Yankees has been 'disappointing and uneven'—particularly at the plate.
While his bat's been quiet, Caldera points out his looming contract is echoing very loudly for the Yankees as they look to the future.
Advertisement
Caldera notes that if Bellinger's offensive numbers don't rebound, he might consider exercising his $25 million player option for the 2026 season. That would allow him to avoid a soft free-agent market and aim for a reset year instead—something more players are starting to consider in a volatile post-pandemic contract landscape.
The Chicago Cubs gave Bellinger a three-year, $80 million deal that includes opt-outs after each of the first two seasons. It was a structure built to protect both sides with short-term flexibility for the club, and upside potential for Bellinger if he returned to form.
New York Yankees center fielder Cody Bellinger tosses his bat after being called out on strikes against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on April 22, 2025.© David Richard-Imagn Images
So far, it looks like it will protect Bellinger.
Advertisement
Through his first 150 plate appearances, the lefty slugger is batting just .221 with five home runs and a .675 OPS. For a player expected to anchor the middle of the Yankees' lineup and help carry them through a competitive AL East race, it's not the production they envisioned.
What's keeping Bellinger valuable and probably the main reason he is playing every day is the glove. He's played Gold Glove-caliber defense across all three outfield spots.
Bellinger was brought in as part of the Yankees' pivot after losing Juan Soto in free agency. The Yankees liked his defense and felt his left-handed swing would benefit from playing in Yankee Stadium 81 times a year.
Related: Insider Links Yankees to All-Star Third Baseman as Trade Rumors Heat Up
Related: Aaron Boone Provides Telling Update on DJ LeMahieu's Return Plans
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Darryl Strawberry on Juan Soto's adjustment, Pete Alonso's power and the side of his life you don't see
Access the Mets beat like never before Don't miss Mike Puma's text messages from Queens and beyond — he's giving Sports+ subscribers the inside buzz on the Mets. Sign up Now Darryl Strawberry has lived two different existences. There was Strawberry the major league baseball star who won four World Series rings with the Mets and Yankees, but never reached his full Hall of Fame potential in part because of a cocaine addiction. That part of Strawberry's story has been well-told over the years in various formats, including books authored by the former outfielder, whose No. 18 was retired by the Mets last year. Now Strawberry is collaborating on a project that will focus on his new existence leading a Christian ministry. The book, 'Another Life,' co-written by Jerome Preisler, is scheduled for publication in 2026.
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Yankees-Red Sox rivalry's latest chapter will feature plenty of first tastes
Access the Yankees beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees. Try it free For the fifth time in six years, the Yankees will get their first look at the Red Sox in June or — in the case of the 2020 COVID-delayed season — even later. The Yanks' longtime rivals will arrive for three games in The Bronx beginning Friday, giving Aaron Boone's first-place club a chance to put further distance between them in the AL East race. Advertisement The retooled Red Sox (30-34) will enter 9.5 games behind the Yankees, and they will be without injured free-agent signing Alex Bregman (quad) this weekend. 'Obviously, it's been a tough start for them, but a lot of close games that they've been on the wrong side of,' Aaron Boone said before the Yankees defeated the Guardians, 4-0, in Thursday's series finale. 'We really viewed them in spring training and early in the season as, like, a really talented team. We know what they're capable of and feel like that can still be a reality for them. 3 Cody Bellinger reacts after hitting an RBI single during the Yankees' win against the Guardians on June 5. Charles Wenzelberg Advertisement 'We feel like a really good, hungry club is gonna be coming in here, that it certainly hasn't started how they wanted to, but I feel like they're very dangerous.' Imported former All-Star hurlers Walker Buehler and Garrett Crochet will be on the mound the first two nights for Boston, while first-year Yankee vets such as Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt will get their first taste of the rivalry. 'I'm actually shocked that it's taken so long, that it's June and we haven't faced them yet,' said Bellinger, a former teammate of Buehler's with the Dodgers. 'I'm very excited about it. I always think of that '04 Red Sox team, and obviously you know about the rivalry from the late '90s and the 2000s and all the years before that. I'm sure the atmosphere is going to be really fun. And it's here in New York to start, and then we'll go up there next week (June 13-15). Advertisement 3 Walker Buehler throws a pitch during his start against the Braves on May 31, 2025. Getty Images 'Every game is an opportunity to put more distance between us, but I think what this team does a great job of is at the end of the day, we're here to win, and it doesn't matter who's on the other side. Honestly, that's how we approach every series.' Goldschmidt likened Yanks-Sox to the rivalry the Cardinals, his former team, have had for decades with the Cubs, only 'probably even more' intense. 'Obviously, we all know the history of the rivalry, and those kinds of games are always fun, especially with our fans when both sides are a part of it. We definitely feel that excitement,' Goldschmidt said. 'I know when I came over here, the guys and past players pointed to the games against the Mets and the Red Sox as something different. Advertisement CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND YANKEES STATS 3 Paul Goldschmidt flips a ball during the Yankees' win over the Guardian on June 3, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg 'I definitely felt that when we played the Mets [in May], and that's always fun. Cubs-Cardinals was that way in St. Louis, so much history between the teams and the fan bases. … Everyone loves to play in those atmospheres and those moments where there's a little bit more emotion.' Righty Will Warren will pitch the opener for the Yanks, coming off a rough outing last week against the Dodgers in which he coughed up seven earned runs without making it through two innings. 'For me, I'm just looking forward to getting back out there again after last time,' Warren said ahead of his first career start against the Red Sox. 'I'm trying to treat it like it's another game, but obviously it's bigger than that to a lot of people. I think we're all kind of brought into this rivalry, but it's exciting and gonna be fun. 'Being at home with these fans supporting us all the way through, that's always encouraging no matter who we're playing. But being the Red Sox, I'm sure they're gonna be giving it to them.'
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Yankees start 3-game series at home against the Red Sox
Boston Red Sox (30-34, fourth in the AL East) vs. New York Yankees (38-23, first in the AL East) New York; Friday, 7:05 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Red Sox: Walker Buehler (4-3, 4.44 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 42 strikeouts); Yankees: Will Warren (3-3, 5.19 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 69 strikeouts) Advertisement BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Yankees -175, Red Sox +146; over/under is 9 runs BOTTOM LINE: The New York Yankees begin a three-game series at home against the Boston Red Sox on Friday. New York has a 20-10 record at home and a 38-23 record overall. The Yankees are 22-5 in games when they scored at least five runs. Boston has a 13-18 record on the road and a 30-34 record overall. The Red Sox are 6-17 in games decided by one run. The matchup Friday is the first meeting of the season between the two clubs. TOP PERFORMERS: Paul Goldschmidt has 13 doubles, a triple, six home runs and 28 RBIs while hitting .323 for the Yankees. Aaron Judge is 12 for 32 with three doubles and three home runs over the last 10 games. Advertisement Jarren Duran has 17 doubles, six triples, four home runs and 35 RBIs while hitting .274 for the Red Sox. Ceddanne Rafaela is 14 for 41 with two doubles and four home runs over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Yankees: 7-3, .229 batting average, 4.30 ERA, outscored by seven runs Red Sox: 3-7, .251 batting average, 3.93 ERA, outscored by nine runs INJURIES: Yankees: Luke Weaver: 15-Day IL (hamstring), Oswaldo Cabrera: 10-Day IL (ankle), Giancarlo Stanton: 60-Day IL (elbow), Marcus Stroman: 15-Day IL (knee), JT Brubaker: 60-Day IL (ribs), Jake Cousins: 60-Day IL (elbow), Gerrit Cole: 60-Day IL (elbow), Luis Gil: 60-Day IL (back) Advertisement Red Sox: Nick Burdi: 15-Day IL (knee), Justin Slaten: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Liam Hendriks: 15-Day IL (hip), Alex Bregman: 10-Day IL (quadricep), Triston Casas: 60-Day IL (knee), Masataka Yoshida: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Kutter Crawford: 60-Day IL (knee), Tanner Houck: 15-Day IL (flexor), Chris Murphy: 60-Day IL (elbow), Patrick Sandoval: 60-Day IL (elbow) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
