One Name Tops Yankees' Plan B List as Cody Bellinger Talks at an 'Impasse'

Reports are that the New York Yankees and their prized free agent Cody Bellinger are at an impasse, and their offseason could come crashing down if they don't figure out a solid Plan B in short order.

The Yankees' negotiations with Cody Bellinger are at an impasse and the team now believes he will sign elsewhere, per @Buster_ESPN

Olney reports that the Yankees are now seeking additions elsewhere pic.twitter.com/dbRnlgiISZ
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) January 10, 2026

The problem is the term on a potential deal. New York is said to be standing firm at a five-year contract for the 30-year-old, while Belli is looking for something more in the seven-year range.

Given these circumstances, according to Buster Olney of ESPN, the Yankees believe that Bellinger will not be returning to the Bronx, and will be signing elsewhere. They have now pivoted to find whatever their Plan B is.

What is Yankees' Plan B if Bellinger leaves?

The only real option as far as an outfield 'fallback' would be top free agent Kyle Tucker. But the Yankees' reluctance to go longer term with Bellinger would leave them with the same problem with Tucker. He's looking for an even longer-term deal than Bellinger, and would cost about twice as much as well.

So that brings us to Bo Bichette. Could the Bronx Bombers make a big, late push for their arch divisional rival's free agent? Bichette already has an interview lined up with the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday. So the Yankees already have some catching up to do in that department as well.

If they were to somehow convince Bo to come to New York, they could either go with the kids in the outfield (Spencer Jones and Jasson Dominguez, to go along with Trent Grisham), or perhaps move Jazz Chisholm back to the outfield.

Bellinger hit .272 with 29 home runs and 98 RBIs for the Yankees in 2025, with an .813 OPS. Additionally, he hit 18 of his 29 homers at Yankee Stadium and had a .909 OPS there, close to 200 points higher than on the road.