The 2025 MLB season concluded with the New York Yankees finishing strong, but questions now swirl around one of their key players. Cody Bellinger, the outfielder acquired in a December 2024 trade with the Chicago Cubs, is expected to opt out of his contract after the World Series, setting the stage for a potentially massive free-agent market.

Bellinger, who posted 29 home runs, 98 RBIs, and a 5.0 WAR this season, is turning down the $25 million option on the final year of his three-year, $80 million deal. This move would make the former National League MVP one of the most sought-after free agents in the upcoming offseason.

The Athletic’s Jim Bowden projected that Bellinger will be the No. 10 free agent on the open market. “Bellinger’s ability to play above-average defense at all three ou

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