The Yankees are staring at some major outfield decisions this winter, with both Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger hitting free agency after serving as everyday players alongside Aaron Judge last season.
That leaves a lot of holes to fill.
The Yankees do have some internal options they could lean on. Jasson Dominguez is waiting in the wings, and minor league standout Spencer Jones continues developing. But let’s be honest – they’re probably going to want proven big league talent out there.
Which is where Bellinger comes back into the picture.
MLB.com’s Thomas Harrigan thinks there’s a real scenario where the Yankees bring back the 30-year-old Bellinger for 2026, and it’s not hard to see why.
“Bellinger has already shown how perfectly his skill set aligns with the Yankees’ roster. His ability to play center field provides a crucial level of defensive flexibility, and his left-handed swing is tailor-made for Yankee Stadium’s short right-field porch.”
There’s another factor that makes Bellinger attractive to this Yankees lineup.
“He also hardly ever strikes out, a welcome contrast for a Yankees lineup that features a lot of swing and miss. With all of that in mind, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Bronx Bombers prioritize re-signing the 30-year-old Bellinger this offseason.”
That contact ability is huge for a team that’s struggled with strikeouts. Bellinger’s approach fits what they need.
The Yankees acquired Bellinger from the Cubs before last season, and he delivered one of the better campaigns of his career. He hit .272 with 29 home runs and 98 RBIs while posting an .813 OPS in his first year in pinstripes.
Those numbers are going to cost the Yankees if they want him back. Bellinger’s likely looking at a long-term deal in free agency, but after seeing what he can do in Yankee Stadium, they might be willing to pay for that production.
It’s a situation worth watching as the Yankees figure out how to fill out their outfield for 2026.
