Rival Team Named Best Fit For Cody Bellinger Despite Yankees Interest

New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger rounds the bases after home run during 2025 game.

After trading Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil and watching Pete Alonso leave, the New York Mets have an opening for an everyday impact bat in the outfield, and Bellinger’s name keeps coming up among insiders as a perfect solution, even with the New York Yankees pushing hard to bring him back.

Mets roster fit makes Bellinger the obvious target

The Mets have Juan Soto, but they don’t have a second reliable outfield threat locked in, and left field is still sitting there waiting for a real answer.

Bellinger checks multiple boxes at once because he can play center field, handle a corner spot, and slide over to first base if the Mets want insurance or a true rotation plan at the position.

.@TalkinJake thinks the next big move to happen is Cody Bellinger to the Mets

Presented by @SeatGeek pic.twitter.com/wEPDKAjTRZ
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) January 7, 2026

That versatility matters more for the Mets than it does in the Bronx, where the Yankees can talk themselves into other paths and still survive.

Yankees interest is real, but the Mets can outmuscle it

The Yankees reportedly have made multiple offers, and Bellinger already proved he can thrive in New York’s spotlight.

Last season in pinstripes, he hit .272/.334/.480 with 29 homers and 98 RBIs, cut his strikeouts to a career best 13.7%, and posted a 125 wRC+, which is exactly the kind of steady, middle-of-the-order production teams pay for.

Cody Bellinger is reportedly drawing interest from the Cubs, Yankees, Mets, Dodgers and Giants.

Jake Peavy breaks down where he believes the outfielder fits best. pic.twitter.com/WhGRiK1OMD
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 6, 2026