New York Yankees trade for big bat while the Toronto Blue Jays stand pat.
The New York Yankees have acquired outfielder Cody Bellinger in a trade with the Chicago Cubs.
Reported first by Jeff Passan, of $5 million the Cubs are sending to the Yankees in the trade, $2.5 million will cover his 2025 salary.
The remaining $2.5 million will either cover the buyout if he doesn't exercise his player option for 2026 or Bellinger's 2026 salary if he does.
Over 130 games last season, Bellinger slashed .266/.325/.426 with 18 home runs, 78 RBIs and 23 doubles. He spent time in all three outfield spots and at first base.
Bellinger made his major league debut in 2017 and spent his first six seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was the NL MVP in 2019, batting .305 with 47 homers and 115 RBIs in 156 games. He also helped LA win the World Series in 2020.
The Yankees be playing Bellinger in centerfield, while moving Aaron Judge back to right as reported by Bob Nightingale.
With the Cubs acquiring Tucker, the writing was on the wall for Bellinger's tenure in Chicago, as the outfield only grew more crowded with the acquisition of the former Astros All-Star.
Right-handed reliever Cody Poteet is headed to Chicago in return, while the Cubs are also sending $5 million to the Yankees to be split evenly over the next two seasons.
Poteet, 30, made his major league debut with Miami in 2021, had Tommy John surgery on Aug. 17, 2022, returned to the mound with Kansas City's Triple-A Omaha farm team on Sept. 23, 2023, was released by the Royals and signed with the Yankees last January.
He went 3-0 with a 2.22 ERA in four starts and one relief appearance during a season in which he was sidelined between June 12 and Sept. 25 by a strained right triceps.
The New Yankees continue to improve in all aspects of their club post Juan Soto with acquisitions like lefty ace Max Fried, an elite closer in Devin Williams, and now a trade for a big left-handed bat like Cody Bellinger.
Ross Atkins continues to let this fanbase down without any indication of a big trade or signing in any shape or form to improve the Toronto Blue Jays.
Sure Atkins acquired a three-time gold glover in Andres Gimenez, which is great, however the rest of the AL east (especially the Yankees) continue to put the peddle to the metal in terms of making their teams better, while the Blue Jays are barely moving the needle.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 17 | 196 ANSWERS New York Yankees trade for big bat while the Toronto Blue Jays stand pat. Do you think Ross Atkins will bring a big bat to the Blue Jays, like the New York Yankees did with Cody Bellinger? | ||
| Yes | 26 | 13.3 % |
| No | 80 | 40.8 % |
| I sure hope so | 41 | 20.9 % |
| Fire Ross Atkins before its too late! | 49 | 25 % |
| List of polls | ||
