Rival AL East Team Urged to Sign Cody Bellinger in Free Agency

The New York Yankees' season doesn't appear to have much life left in it, after getting absolutely crushed in the first two games of the ALDS by the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. With that, outfielder Cody Bellinger could have just a game or two left in Pinstripes as he enters free agency once again this winter. 

One rival American League East team is being urged to go all-out to sign Bellinger this offseason. Roch Kubatko of MASN says the Baltimore Orioles "must find a hitter to improve lineup and leadership," and he posits Belli as the man to fill both of those roles.

While the Orioles are on the hunt for a new manager for 2026, Kubatko writes that giving whoever that manager is a much-needed leadership boost on the offensive side of the ball would help.

His life will be easier if the Orioles give him a veteran bat for the lineup. Make sure that it’s gripped by a leader. 

The Orioles are counting on the young core, as it’s called, to step up in 2026. They also counted on it in 2025 and results were mixed at best. Mostly below expectations.

As Kubatko notes, the O's have plenty of up-and-coming promising players, but some of them stumbled in 2025. The steady hand of a veteran leader who produces like Bellinger would be a huge help.

Gunnar Henderson didn't quite progress as expected after a painfully slow start to the season. Colton Cowser stumbled big-time in his sophomore season, and couldn't crack the Mendoza Line, hitting .196 while watching his OPS+ dip by nearly 40 points to just 83. 

Jackson Holliday posted a .690 OPS, but he is just 21, so expectations should be tempered at this point anyway. 

Bellinger, 30, would be a strong voice to help lead the young core forward. And his 29-homer, 98-RBI season with an .813 OPS is nothing to sneeze at either. 

Can he produce two star seasons like that in a row is the big question, however. He hasn't done that in back-to-back years since 2018-2019. 

Nevertheless, Bellinger will be in line for a huge payday this winter. Will the Orioles step up and hand out the largest free agent deal of the Mike Elias era? 

Photo; © Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images