MLB Trade Rumors: 3 Teams Who Need To Be 'All In' on Free Agent Cody Bellinger

Cody Bellinger, New York Yankees center fielder

Cody Bellinger had a tremendous first season with the New York Yankees, and is about to finally earn that big-money free agent deal this offseason that he's been looking for. As noted by insider Joel Sherman of the New York Post, Bellinger had every bit the season that vaunted top free agent Kyle Tucker had in 2025.

The former NL MVP, Bellinger blasted 29 home runs with 98 RBIs with an .813 OPS, and is able to play first base or outfield.

So who will be making the biggest push for Belli in free agency? Per Sherman, three teams need to go all-in on him, starting with the incumbents:

New York Yankees

"Bellinger's skill set fit the Yankees perfectly... He played left, center and right equally well... He told manager Aaron Boone, 'Play me where you want, build the rest of the lineup around me'," noted Sherman.

"He had a career-low strikeout rate... He OPS'd over 1.000 left-on-left this year, and he had a .979 OPS with runners in scoring position."

He says that Bellinger is the ideal fit for center field in New York, with none of Jasson Dominguez or minor leaguer Spencer Jones proven to be the answer at this point, and Aaron Judge is getting up into his 30s, and shouldn't be the solution in center for the future in the Bronx.

"I feel like the Yankees should extend (themselves) a little bit for a player who so clearly works (for them)," concludes Sherman. "I think the Yankees have to do everything they can to find a way back to him."

But make no mistake, they will have some stiff competition in the big-spenders department:

Philadelphia Phillies

Here's a team that needs help in the outfield. Nick Castellanos is on his way out of town, one way or another, while the rest of the incumbents, Brandon Marsh, Max Kepler (free agent), and Harrison Bader (mutual option) are not difference makers. The Phils are expected to spend big money to keep their own important free agent, Kyle Schwarber, so it'll be interesting to see how much they'd spend on another big bat.

New York Mets

The Mets need a center fielder. And if they somehow, inexplicably, let free agent Pete Alonso slip through their hands, they will be desperate for a first baseman as well. Bellinger is the answer for either one of those needs, and price is no object for owner Steve Cohen.