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NEW YORK – When Brian Cashman went to Plan B after losing Juan Soto, he fell back on a familiar name: Cody Bellinger.
“I took over from his father back then. Now I’ve had his son,” the New York Yankees general manager said Wednesday.
In the first 10 days after Soto spurned the Yankees for a record, 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets, the Yankees signed left-hander Max Fried to a one-term, $218 million contract of eight years and acquired closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers and brought in Bellinger, a former NL MVP, from the Chicago Cubs.
Cashman said the Yankees have also been invited to meet in California with Roki Sasaki, the celebrated 23-year-old Japanese pitcher who is eligible to sign with Major League Baseball clubs Jan. 15-23.
“I’m just glad we have a chance,” Cashman said. “Extremely talented, there is no doubt about it, he has the chance to become one of the best pitchers in the world. It would be nice for Yankee Stadium to be his home.”
Because he is under 25, Sasaki is treated by the MLB as an international amateur and is subject to signing bonus pools for minor league contracts normally allocated to 16-year-old Latin American prospects. Teams have available amounts ranging from approximately $7.6 million to $4.1 million, while the Yankees’ cap is approximately $5.3 million.
Bellinger’s father signed with the Yankees in November 1996 and played for the big league team from 1999 to 2001, winning two World Series and three American League pennants. Cody turned six during his father’s final season in pinstripes.
“Someone who wants to be here,” Cashman said, a comment that some might interpret as directed at Soto. “I’ve been hearing it for a long time, including his agent Scott Boras asking, ‘Can you bring him here?’ He drives me crazy. He wants to be a Yankee.’ But that’s not why I did it. Ultimately I did it because it was right.”
Depending on the Yankees’ other moves, Bellinger could play in the outfield or at first base.
“There are different options,” manager Aaron Boone said. “You’re never going to have the perfect team and at the start of an offseason you never know what you can do, whether it’s improving your strength, whether it’s filling a hole. This is where the market and meetings take place. And so far I think I’m really excited about the steps we’ve taken. … I feel like the winter has been good so far.”
Bellinger is guaranteed $52.5 million over the next two seasons. The 29-year-old, who is left-handed, has a $27.5 million salary for next year and a $25 million player option for 2026 with a $5 million buyout.
“It’s an honor to wear the pinstripes, I’m ready and excited to get to work!” he wrote on Instagram.
Chicago agreed to send the Yankees $5 million: $2.5 million next September 1, and if the option is exercised, five payments of $500,000 on the first of each month from May through September in 2026. If the option is declined, the Cubs would pay the Yankees $2.5 million on January 15, 2026.
Bellinger batted .266 with 18 homers and 78 RBIs in 130 games this year and was sidelined between April 23 and May 7 with a broken right rib. He had an OPS of 1.035 in 2019, when he was selected to his second All-Star team and won the NL MVP Award with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He’s been over .800 once in the last five years.
“I feel like he’s going to play offensively for us and he’s still a young man and a really good athlete,” Boone said. “So you’re always hoping for the ultimate advantage, but at least I know we’re getting a really valuable player.”
Boone spoke with Bellinger on Tuesday evening.
“He says, ‘By the way, don’t worry about where you play me.’ I will play anywhere. Wherever you need me that night, whether it be center, left, first, whatever it may be,” Boone recalled.
Williams will be the Yankees’ closer, and Boone and pitching coach Matt Blake said they have both assured Luke Weaver that he will have a prominent role.
“Obviously Weaver will still close some games on certain nights, I would expect that,” Boone said. “But I plan for Devin to be our closer partner.”
Blake said Jonathan Loáisiga could return in late April or May following Tommy John surgery on May 1. The 30-year-old right-hander has yet to reach agreement on a one-year contract.
“I imagine he’s one of the most leveraged guys,” Blake said. “Obviously we need to take some time to get him right to make sure we don’t push him into contention.”
