Yankees Are 'Prioritizing' Re-Signing Star Outfielder Cody Bellinger — Is This the Right Move for New York?

The New York Yankees are "prioritizing" re-signing Cody Bellinger, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The direct quote from his latest offseason rumor roundup was, "The Yankees are prioritizing Cody Bellinger, and while word is he'd like to return, there's no sense it will go quickly."

Now it begs the question: is bringing back Bellinger the optimal choice for the Yankees this offseason?

Bellinger, 30, had a strong first season in the Bronx, posting a slash line of .272/.334/.480 along with 29 home runs and 89 RBIs, good for a 125 wRC+. Along with his offensive success, Bellinger provided elite defensive value and was a solid base runner. He logged over 300 innings at all three outfield positions. While his play in center field wasn’t the best (-1 OAA, 0 FRV), he was stellar in left field (4 OAA, 4 FRV) and right field (2 OAA, 4 FRV). On the bases, he stole 13 bases and posted a 0.9 BSR. In terms of WAR, Bellinger finished with 4.9, ranking as the 19th most valuable player in MLB during the 2025 season—putting him in the same tier as players like Kyle Schwarber and Byron Buxton in overall value.

For context, in a recent article, Jim Bowden of The Athletic listed the top 20 free-agent contract predictions. For Bellinger, he projected a six-year deal worth $168 million ($28 million AAV). This context is important because the Yankees essentially face an either/or decision between Cody Bellinger and my personal top target, Kyle Tucker. In the same article, Bowden predicted Tucker would receive a 10-year deal worth $427 million ($42.7 million AAV).

The main question you have to ask yourself based on these numbers is this: Is Cody Bellinger plus the additional player(s) you could sign with the extra $14.7 million per year worth passing up on the superior player in Kyle Tucker?

My Final Thoughts: The plan of signing Bellinger plus other complementary players with the leftover money is a fine Plan B for the Yankees. However, it should not, under any circumstances, be their top priority. Kyle Tucker is a far superior overall player (outside of defense), and the Yankees should be doing everything within reason to make him a Yankee this offseason.

I’d love to hear everyone’s thoughts on this debate: Cody Bellinger vs. Kyle Tucker. Who do you think the Yankees should prioritize, and why does that option make more sense than the other?