Cody Bellinger Introduced To The Big Apple Spotlight On Thursday

Eight-year Major League Baseball veteran Cody Bellinger spoke to the New York media on Thursday during a SportsNet New York video conference with local NYC-tri state and national reporters about being traded to the New York Yankees on December 17.

“I have the opportunity to play for one of the best franchises in all of sports. I knew there was interest, and I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity and I’m just glad it was all able to work out,” Cody Bellinger said during the SNY video conference.

The 2024 American League Champions are paying $45.4 million between Max Fried, Devin Williams, and Bellinger for the 2025 season, with Juan Soto being paid by the New York Mets for $55 million.

The Pinstripes acquired the 2017 National League ROY, two-time All-Star, and 2020 World Series champion from the Chicago Cubs on December 17 after trading right-handed pitcher Cody Poteet to the North Side.

The Yankees will receive $5 million to offset the left-handed slugger’s contract, which has two years and $52.5 million remaining. Cody Bellinger’s contract also includes a $25 million option for 2026 that can be bought out for $5 million.

Last season, Cody Bellinger played in 130 games with the Cubs, hitting .266 with 569 plate appearances, rocking 137 hits, 23 doubles, three triples, 18 home runs, 78 RBI, swiping nine bases, 45 walks, 89 strikeouts, and a .751 OPS.

Cody Bellinger played in 94 games in center field and right field with 93 starts through 794 innings, with 196 chances, 191 putouts, three assists, two errors, one double play, and a .990 fielding percentage.

The 29-year-old from Scottsdale, Ariz., played in 22 games at first with 13 starts in 2024, through 132.2 innings, with 117 chances, 110 putouts, seven assists, no errors, and four double plays after the Cubs were tied for second place in the National League Central Division with the St. Louis Cardinals at 83-79 and missing the playoffs.

The Bronx Bombers also had Cody Bellinger’s father, Clay with their franchise from 1999-2001, helping them win two consecutive World Series titles during his three seasons in New York.

“It’s truly wild. When I got the news I called my dad, and he was very excited. He plays it all cool, and I know deep down he is really excited that I’m with the Yankees,” Bellinger said during the SNY video conference.

In Clay Bellinger’s three seasons in Pinstripes, he played in 181 games, batting .194 with 344 plate appearances, drilling 60 hits, 11 doubles, three triples, 12 home runs, 35 RBI, seven stolen bases, 22 walks, 82 strikeouts, and a .623 OPS before him being released on January 17, 2002 and then signing with the Anaheim Angels on February 7, 2002, when he was a free agent.

Clay and Cody will be the fourth father-son duo to play for the Yankees. They join Hall-of-Fame catcher Yogi Berra from 1946-63 and infielder Dale Berra from 1985-86, right-handed pitcher Ron Davis from 1978-81 and first baseman Ike Davis in 2016, right-handed pitcher Mark Leiter in 1990 and right-handed pitcher Mark Leiter Jr., who also moved from the Cubs to the Yankees in 2024. Shortstop Benjamin Cowles and right-handed pitcher Jack Neely also head to the Windy City.

During Cody Bellinger’s eight seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2017-22 and with the Cubs from 2023-24, he has played in 1,005 games with a lifetime average of .259 in 4,109 plate appearances, cracking 942 hits, 186 doubles, 23 triples, 196 home runs, 597 RBI, 91 stolen bases, 412 walks, 867 strikeouts, and a .818 OPS.

Cody Bellinger is projected to be the starting center fielder for the Yankees with Jasson Dominguez, Trent Grisham, and Oswaldo Cabrera, that could have certain outfield roles to be evaluated during the 2025 Grapefruit League season under manager Aaron Boone.

Cody Bellinger is also the sixth left-handed hitter on the roster for the Bombers, along with Dominguez, Grisham, Cabrera, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Austin Wells.

The Yankees will begin spring training on February 21 at home against the Tampa Bay Rays at George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla. at 1:05 p.m. EST. They will open the 2025 regular season on March 27 at home against the Milwaukee Brewers at 3:05 p.m. EDT.