The Athletic's Will Sammon pondered the possibility. While Sammon presents the idea as more of a hypothetical than a given, it's a fair reaction to what has been a quiet stretch for Munetaka Murakami ahead of his signing deadline, 5 pm. ET on Monday, Dec. 22.

Cody Bellinger might not return to the Yankees next year as their fans are quietly confident of , says sportscaster Brandon Tierney.

Cody Bellinger enjoyed a great campaign in 2025. Ending the regular season with a .272 batting average, 29 home runs and 98 RBIs, the outfielder helped the New York Yankees qualify for the postseason, earning himself an inclusion in the All-MLB Second Team in the process.

Philadelphia Phillies president Dave Dombrowski confirmed the team’s main offseason focus following Kyle Schwarber’s re-signing and ongoing rumors of a pursuit for Cody Bellinger, highlighting the team’s priorities for 2026.

Schoenfield predicted that the New York Mets would sign Bellinger to a six-year, $180 million contract. The two-time All-Star hit .272 with 29 home runs, 98 RBIs, and an .813 OPS for the Yankees last season, and he opted out of his contract following the World Series.

The Yankees have committed $704 million for Cole, Fried and Rodon. For 2026, the trio is set to earn a combined $90.25 million from their annual salaries, with all three just behind Aaron Judge on the Yankees' payroll. Adding Imai will further bloat those figures.