Yankees reach deal to bring back Cody Bellinger

NEW YORK − After a lengthy winter waltz between the Yankees and free agent Cody Bellinger, the two sides have come to agreement on a new contract.

A versatile, lefty-hitting outfielder and the Yankees' primary offseason target, Bellinger is back in the Bronx following his successful initial season in pinstripes.

By securing Bellinger, 30, the Yankees have satisfied an offseason need to bolster the middle of their lineup - providing better protection for slugging captain Aaron Judge.

It's a deeper Yankees lineup, one that essentially is a runback of their second-half batting order in 2025.

Last year, the Yankees led the majors in runs scored (849), home runs (274) and OPS-plus (118), fueling a 94-win club that sustained the loss of free agent superstar outfielder Juan Soto to the Mets.

But the Yanks finished second to AL East champion Toronto, due to the Blue Jays' superior head-to-head record, and ultimately lost to Toronto in a four-game Division Series.

Before opting into free agency by declining a $25 million player option for 2026, Bellinger expressed a desire to return to the Yankees.

"We all played for each other,'' Bellinger said in October. "It was such a fun group to be a part of. Came up short, and that part stinks for sure, because we had a really, really good group here.''

Bellinger is likely to be the Yankees' Opening Day left fielder and possible No. 3 hitter (he can also play first base), after batting .272 last season (.813 OPS) with 29 home runs, 98 RBI and 13 stolen bases (15 attempts) in 152 games.

As part of the pivot after the Yanks lost Soto in December 2024, the Yankees acquired Bellinger in a trade with the Chicago Cubs that was essentially a salary dump by the Chicago Cubs, who received pitcher Cody Poteet.

The NL Rookie of the Year in 2017, the NL MVP in 2019 and a key player on a world championship team in 2020 - all with the Los Angeles Dodgers - Bellinger suffered a shoulder injury that sent his career sideways and ultimately led to being non-tendered after the 2022 season.

Bellinger’s 13.7 percent strikeout rate was the lowest of his career, and he batted. 353 (1.016 OPS) in 176 plate appearances against lefty pitchers, as well as producing a .909 OPS at Yankee Stadium.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Cody Bellinger, Yankees reach deal