January 30, 2026

113 thoughts on “NY Post: Yankees’ Bo Bichette interest intensifies as they face gap with Cody Bellinger”

  4. It’s really baffling to me that the Yankees are apparently willing to go OVER $30 million for Bellinger, and yet won’t go for Tucker?!

    I guess it’s possible Tucker is asking for, like, $40 million a year over 10 years or some shit like that.

  5. Bob Klapisch, “I’m told Bellinger is also seeking $36-$37 million per year. The Yankees think that’s crazy, too, although there’s room for negotiation in that regard.” Oh, really? There’s room for negotiation from the figure you’re never going to get? For serious? That’s amazingly kind of you to be willing to move from a price you’ll never get!

    1. Just, no. Heck, no. Take our offer, or, bye.

      They talk about teams colluding, but what about Boras and Excel Sports colluding to drive up the price for their clients, Bellinger and Tucker, respectively?

    2. I don’t disagree, but I also don’t think there is any real sign of collusion between the two agents. We all knew what Tucker’s ask was going to be. It’s pretty public information.

      But yes, if Boras and Close are colluding, that’s fucked up, as well.

  6. If a 5 win player like Tucker gets anywhere near $40m for 10 years, Aaron judge becomes the most underpaid player in baseball. And cashman is a genius for signing him for such a low $ figure

    1. That’s just how contracts typically work, no? The money tends to go up over time when some other dude gets a big deal (which is why owners try desperately to avoid setting new “precedents,” and the players union pushes players TO set new “precedents”).

      I don’t think the Cole contract, for instance, made the Verlander deal look cheap in retrospect.

  8. Projected WAR has the Yankees just below the Blue Jays at the moment for tops in the AL.

    Obviously, the Yankees will be adding projected WAR, but so will the Blue Jays (allegedly) if they add Tucker.

    So the Yankees need to add a good deal more.

    But, at the same time, they very well could be planning on doing just that.

    1. I think the Yankees are poorly constructed for the post-season, especially the offense.
      I might buy the projected WAR as a measure of their regular season prospects, but I do NOT buy it as a measure of their short-series prospects.
      And in a world where this many teams make the post-season, that’s just the wrong way to build an expensive team.

    2. He’s a pitcher.

      Would be funny if Sterling had personalized HR allowed calls. “Clemens gives up a Rocket, and the Yankees trail 2-1.”

    4. Sorry Pete. Makes sense now. But in that case, why not have Ort pinch-hit for Volpe in the 3rd?

    2. Manfred could really ruin baseball totally, couldn’t he?
      I really, really dislike Selig. I never imagined the very next commissioner could be, potentially, a disaster that would make Selig look like Shirley Temple.

    3. The worst part of that interview to me was the hosts just nodding along like what he was saying made ANY fucking sense at all.

      “Four divisions based on geography, but the Yankees and Mets would somehow be in different divisions.” I don’t want them in the same LEAGUE, but if you’re doing it geographically, how the fuck would they NOT be in the same division?

  14. Bryan Hoch: The Yankees “are now operating under the assumption that (Cody) Bellinger is going to sign elsewhere,” @Buster_ESPN reports.

    Huh?

  15. Olney But barring a shift in the negotiations, it appears his time with the Yankees is over, and they’ll look at other possibilities to augment their roster. The Yankees have remained engaged in the conversations for outfielder Kyle Tucker and infielder Bo Bichette, and as they have haggled in the Bellinger negotiations, they have also engaged other teams about trade possibilities.

    https://www.espn.com/mlb/

    1. I really think Belli essentially played them into saying, “Fuck it, if you’re asking for THAT much money, then we might as well just pay Tucker.”

    2. What’s the probability any of this is true? Bichette only makes sense if you trade Jazz.

    1. We’ve already lived thru years and million on DJLM and Aaron hicks. Stanton has mostly been a bust. I seriously don’t understand why anyone thinks our GM is any good. What am I missing?

  18. The Cubs sign Bregman.

    Third baseman Alex Bregman and the Chicago Cubs are in agreement on a five-year, $175 million contract, sources tell ESPN. One year after their failed pursuit of Bregman in free agency, the Cubs land one of the biggest bats of the winter.

    Per Passan

    1. bregman has been way more valuable than bellinger over the last five years. and consistent. and cheaper? make it make sense.

  22. The Yankees never thought of Bregman …because 3rd base is not a position of need for the Yankees?
    Oh, wait, it is?
    On the one hand, WHY Bregman was never a primary Yankee target I just cannot understand. You’d think he’d be the perfect fit and improve the team where it most needs improvement.
    And yet… as absolutely incomprehensible as that is, I just can’t get myself to want members of that Houston team on my team.

    1. And maybe that’s why the yanks didn’t sign him. They didn’t want to anger their fans? Fine as long as they sign someone else. I think if the Red Sox or blue jays sign one of the remaining big 3, the yanks will have no choice but to sign another one.

    2. I don’t think there has been a single deal that has been done that they would have tried to do if not for Grisham. If anything, it would give them even LESS leverage with Bellinger, as their centerfielder would be Jones.

  24. According to a report from The Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham last night, the Red Sox “did not come close financially and were not willing to give Bregman a full no-trade clause, which the Cubs did.”

    3. i heard they were 10M short and wouldn’t budge on the no trade.

      but who cares, they’re disappointed and that’s good enough for me

  26. Some team may regret the deal they give Bellinger.

    For years, the thought was that Bellinger’s swing was built for the Bronx, and it absolutely turned out to be the case. Despite paltry peripherals, like a .254 xBA, .430 xSLG, 88.3 MPH Average Exit Velocity, a 7.5% barrel rate, and 37.9% hard hit rate, Bellinger looked more like the Bellinger of old at Yankee Stadium.

    Bellinger at Home

    Eighteen of his 29 home runs came at home. In the Bronx, he hit .302/.365/.544 to the tune of a 152 wRC+. This was not the case on the road. While away, his numbers nosedived. He looked a lot like that Bellinger who struggled in 2024. Away from River Avenue, he hit .241/.301/.414 with a 97 wRC+.

    https://www.si.com/mlb/yankees/onsi/news/cody-bellinger-played-new-york-yankees-perfection

    1. Which is why I want either Tuck or BoBic and not belli. I can easily see Belli going back to his 2024 numbers or 2021-22. If he turned down $30m a year from the Yankees I’d say that good news for the Yankees. Now lower the bid or better yet don’t bid at all.

    2. Tucker would be at least an attempt to improve.
      But I’m not sure I agree with your logic, BF.
      If there’s a clear and persuasive explanation for why Bellnger is better in New York, that actually seems like an actual good basis upon which to expect that to continue.

    3. Think the question is about trajectory. His average exit velo is stably under 90 MPH for the last 6 years. If you could guarantee him maintaining his current performance for the full length of a contract, then it would be worth it over a regular season (though not necessarily a postseason when facing better pitching and you may not have home field advantage given how stupid your GM/manager are). If his exit velocity were to decline with age, then how many years before he can’t hit it out at home either?

    5. Yes, that’s certainly true. It would be true for any player in his 30s. Agree completely. All I’m saying is that there’s at least one factor that suggests that his improved performance in Yankee Stadium is likely to continue.

  28. Okay, sounds like they’re at 5 years/$32 million for Bellinger.

    I’ll give him this much. I can see why that’s not enough to get it done NOW. I think that would be enough to eventually get it done when no one else beats that, but that’s not so high that you “have” to take that now.

  30. ESPN Progress report: The offense ranks in the lower part of the top 10, depending on how you want to allot projected playing time. This is even though they once again profile as the best power-and-patience lineup in baseball. There are too many strikeouts and the collective average is too low, shortcomings that of course go hand in hand. Kyle Tucker is not just the caliber of player this team needs — he’s the kind of player the Yankees need.

    Elsewhere, the rotation has too many walks in its forecast, but more pressing is a bullpen that looks mediocre at the bottom line, lacks dominance and is old. Not a great set of traits.

    2. “The offense ranks in the lower part of the top 10”

      I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone say “Lower part of the top 10” as an insult before.

    3. the problem is that if you put judge on any team they would have a top ten offense.

      it’s like the arod-era rangers, you still have to build a team to win.

    5. They lost the #3 vote-getter in the 2024 AL MVP, and still improved their offense in 2025.

      Why in the world they’re getting judged on their 2026 offense when it’s fucking JANUARY is beyond me.

    6. Why they’re being judged early – fair enough!
      Why their offense needs improvement, though, is pretty self-evident.

  33. Okay, it’s clear that the Yankees leaked their offer to show other teams how serious they were, knowing other teams weren’t going to beat 5/$160 million, and they’re prepared to walk away.

    But now Heyman is saying, “Woah, woah, they’re still negotiating and the Yankees are willing to add an opt-out!”

    Is Heyman leaking that Boras’ attempt to make it look like them accepting 5-years/$160 million with some meaningless opt-outs is a “win” for them?

    If that’s the case, that means they’re probably close to signing Belli.

    1. I kinda thought that the minute they explicitly announced “we’re moving on from Bellinger.” What would be the point of announcing that other than playing a game?
      But I didn’t write it, so I’ve lost the right to claim primacy, I know!
      Anyway, not thrilled.

  34. MLBTR: “The Yankees and outfielder Cody Bellinger were recently reported to be at an impasse in contract negotiations. Both sides are interested in a reunion, but Bellinger has interest from other clubs, including the Mets and Dodgers. (The Angels, Phillies and Giants all at least checked in earlier in the offseason as well.) “
    “While contract length seems to be a sticking point, with Bellinger seeking a longer deal than the Yankees’ five-year offer, New York is reportedly open to bridging the gap by including opt-outs. If structured favorably, that could allow Bellinger to bank significant money over the next couple of years before returning to free agency”

    1. Yeah, Heyman leaking that for Boras sure suggests that that is going to be Boras’ “win” for Belli to combat the fact that ain’t no one beating 5 years/$160 million (no deferrals).

    1. they overpaid last year and now course correct too hard.

      but i think he’s cooked anyway.

  41. I am seriously questioning cashmans skill at this point. Players get old; managers get old; so do GMs. Branch Rickey got old.

    Even if he bring back Belli are they better than last year? If so, how? Because Volpe will finally learn how to
    Hit? Jasson? Etc…

    Well, at least they got rid of a negative WAR closer.

    1. Let’s hope he stays in the NL, because fuck, if the Blue Jays sign him, that would be BERRY berry bad news. You would like to believe that that would at least cause Hal to be willing to at least fucking MATCH THE FUCKING BLUE JAYS and sign another guy on top of Belli.

    2. Does Hal really care that much about winning as opposed to just being competitive enough sell ad time on YES?

  45. Ryan Weathers career FIP of 5, career era+ 85. He’s been better the last 2 years but 24 was better than 25 which is a negative to me.
    Limited to 24 starts the last 2 years.

    1. The big plus Weathers’ modest salary means New York only takes on roughly $1.3MM in taxes to add him.

  46. Hal can’t wrap his mind around the Blue Jays’ financial irresponsibility 9 months before they whip his teams ass again. At which point he’ll be again unable to wrap his mind around the Blue Jays financial irresponsibility as they collect their trophies.

  47. i’m not so stoked on belli. if he’s at 35M and you loved soto, just spend the extra coin on the consistency tucker brings.

    belli is mediocre half the time and doesn’t hit the ball that hard. when he turns into volpe for 40% of the deal we are going to be miserable.

  48. Cash musta been reading FG on Tucker:

    “If you take our projections for Tucker as gospel, the numbers being bandied about don’t add up. Add a premium for stars, round up because he’s the best player on the market, and I can convince my model that Tucker should break $300 million, but I can’t get anywhere near the $400 million to $500 million range that was a popular hand-wave estimate for Tucker before the start of this season. In the end, I told my model to pound sand and estimated him meaningfully higher, but I’m not at all confident in this number. I’ll be watching his market develop with great interest. It’s a fascinating one; he’s clearly the best free agent available, and yet if I were running a team, even as much as I’m in favor of paying up for stars and figuring things out later, I don’t think my offer would be competitive with the top of the league.”

  49. In fact, I’m slowly arriving at the realization that paying attention to the regular season ignores where baseball has arrived.
    Unless you in 120 games, no one will remember how anyone did in the regular season. And when anyone remembers that Mariners team, it’s the Yankee fans who smile.
    …
    With this many playoff spots, we should now be judging teams SOLELY (or almost solely) by their playoff performance.

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