Outfielder Cody Bellinger and the New York Yankees are at a stalemate in contract negotiations. The Yankees have made multiple offers to Bellinger and super agent Scott Boras, but the two sides have not found a resolution. While industry sources expect the two sides to find a resolution at some point, it’s hard to ignore the efforts of the Yankees and the un-reluctance to waive by Boras and Bellinger.
Bellinger and the Yankees at Stalemate in Negotiations
Sources: Yankees’ latest multi-year offer to free agent Cody Bellinger was for more than $30M AAV as Bellinger’s side seeks seven years.
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Yankees and Boras Current Standings
As things currently stand, it looks like Bellinger and his team are requesting a deal of at least 7 years, exceeding an AAV of $30 million. The Yankees have already offered Bellinger a deal with his preferred salary of over $30 million per year, so the gap between the two parties appears to be in terms of contract length. In other words, both sides are very open to a deal, but strongly disagree on the details.
Though Bellinger had a great season last year, it’s easy to see why New York is a little wary to give him a deal of that magnitude. From 2021 to 2024, Bellinger averaged a brWAR of 1.7 per season, which doesn’t exactly make teams any more eager to sign him. Turning 31 years old, Bellinger is not exactly in his prime either. However, looking at the deals that 31 year-old Pete Alonso (5 years, $155 million) and 32 year-old Kyle Schwarber (5 years, $150 million) received, he and Boras just might decide to capitalize on the market and force the Yankees to go higher and higher in negotiations.
Potential Pivots for the Yankees
If the Yankees decide that Bellinger’s asking price is just too high, then they should instead put all of their attention on OF Kyle Tucker and/or SS Bo Bichette. New York has recently been linked to both players, and bringing two elite bats would singlehandedly make their lineup a contender for the best in the AL. Then again, if Bellinger’s asking price is too much for the Yankees, then shooting for Tucker, or even Bichette, might be out of the question financially-speaking.
Yankees Recent Past Negotiations with Boras
The Yankees and Scott Boras have an extensive history, as most big market teams do, but recent years have not served the Yankees well. Last offseason, for example, the Yankees were led on by the Boras camp when courting superstar outfielder Juan Soto. The Yankees were left at the altar when the Mets made a godfather offer that Soto could not refuse.
The last time Boras and the Yankees successfully negotiated are Carlos Rodòn. That was not the biggest of deals, so the list big deal negotiated with Boras was the Gerrit Cole contract ahead of the 2020 season. The Cole signing remains the ultimate example of Boras leveraging a player’s personal leverage, as he famously brandished a childhood photo of Cole holding a “Yankee Fan Today Tomorrow Forever” sign to emphasize that the fit was destiny. By securing a full no-trade clause and an opt-out after the fifth year, Boras ensured the contract provided the pitcher with total career control alongside its record-breaking financial security. The Yankees also were told the Angels were in heavy pursuit of Cole, but never made an offer and the Yankees bid against themselves. The Yankees are attempting to avoid that this time around with the Bellinger negotiations.
It will be interesting to see if the two sides find a way to a deal before the Yankees begin their pivot. Time is of the essence for both sides.
Last Word on Sports Authors Matthew Nethercott and Jack Rotolo wrote this story.
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