Two More Notable Names Linked To Yankees As Backup Plan for Bellinger

The New York Yankees and Cody Bellinger, as we heard over the weekend, are at an impasse. And while Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette were floated as their likely top 'Plan B' options if Bellinger leaves, we're hearing some new names emerge as backup plans.

Insider Jon Heyman writes in the New York Post that the Yankees are considering a trade for one of two Chicago players: White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. or Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner.

"The Yankees are also looking at the trade market, but that isn’t exactly stocked with great options," writes Heyman. "They’ve checked in on underachieving White Sox outfielder Luis Robert, according to sources, and also Cubs star second baseman Nico Hoerner (as Pat Ragazzo of On SI reported), as well as at least a couple others."

Could Yankees trade for Luis Robert Jr. as a Cody Bellinger backup plan?

The oft-injured Robert has been on the trade block for a couple of years now, as the last piece of the previous failed Pale Hose regime. The Rookie of the Year runner-up in 2020 had a strong first four seasons in the Windy City, and despite missing loads of time to injuries, the team was hoping it had a building block cornerstone for the team. He averaged an OPS of about .850 over that period. He's a former All-Star, Gold Glover, and Silver Slugger.

But playing in about 100 games in each of the last two seasons, Robert's production plummeted, from 38 HR in 2023, to just 28 total over the 2024 & '25 seasons. His OPS tanked by 200 points to about .650. He'd be a reclamation project.

It's unknown what kind of trade value he has right now, but it shouldn't cost the Yankees (or any team) a huge haul to land him.

Cubs unlikely to trade Nico Hoerner, who the Yankees are checking in on

As for Hoerner, he's in his prime, as while his name has made the rounds a bit during the Hot Stove this winter, it's doubtful that the Cubs will trade him. After spending big on landing Alex Bregman, and trading their top prospect for starter Edward Cabrera, it certainly sounds like the Cubbies are in win-now mode, and dealing away a top all-around second basemen and Gold Glover like Hoerner sounds like it would be a regrettable decision.

Meanwhile, the Yankees haven't given up yet on Bellinger. Though they're standing firm on five years and not giving in to agent Scott Boras's demands for seven years (they'd be bidding against themselves), the two sides are " trying to find new ways around the gap over term," writes Heyman. Presumably, that means more money.

It ain't over till it's over, as a famous former Yankee once said, so we'll keep an eye on this one.