The New York Yankees drastically revamped their outfield this offseason by signing Juan Soto, Alex Verdugo and Trent Grisham. These strategic additions promise to transform the Yankees outfield and provide a fresh and powerful dynamic for the 2024 season and beyond.
The Yankees have already gone through significant changes, but some baseball executives are predicting another surprising change on the horizon. According to Marc Feinsand of MLB.com, the Yankees are rumored to be looking to sign former MVP Cody Bellinger.
The prospect of signing Bellinger, who despite his latest additions is only 28 years old and coming off a good season with the Chicago Cubs, is intriguing.Bellinger’s performance for the Cubs in 2023 was impressive. He hit .307/.356/.525 with 26 home runs, 97 RBI and 20 stolen bases. The strikeout rate was reduced to 15.6% and the offense was greatly improved by recording 134 WRC.Despite recent success, Bellinger’s market value has declined amid concerns about a potential decline.
His last four seasons have been inconsistent, and his sluggish numbers, including career-low slugging and barrel percentages, reflect some elements of success in his work.Bellinger also provides significant defensive value and can play multiple outfield positions and as a capable first baseman. That versatility could benefit the Yankees, especially since Anthony Rizzo is out of contract after next season, allowing Bellinger to move to first base if needed.However, general manager Brian Cashman faced a dilemma. While Bellinger makes a significant investment, the Yankees need more pitching staff. Cashman is prioritizing need over luxury and wants to sign a nine-year, $270 million contract while pouring resources into targeting players like Blake Snell.
Additionally, acquiring another outfield bat like Bellinger would likely require trading Verdugo, which could be confusing given the recent outfield restructuring.Bottom line, while the Yankees have overhauled their outfield with notable signings, the possibility of drafting Bellinger is still a subject of speculation. The team must be the same as 2024 with the requirements of funds and financial statements to prepare for 2024.
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