The Yankees might think they’re in the driver’s seat to bring back Cody Bellinger, but that’s wishful thinking according to one veteran beat writer.
NJ Advance Media’s Bob Klapisch delivered a reality check this week, reminding Brian Cashman that Scott Boras doesn’t hand out hometown discounts. The super agent’s track record speaks for itself – sentiment doesn’t factor into his negotiations.
“There are no sentimental favorites for anyone represented by the toughest, most pitiless agent in baseball,” Klapisch wrote. “That means no hometown discount, no points for clubhouse friendships or special consideration for a warm relationship with the fans.”
The harsh truth? The Yankees brand isn’t what it used to be.
While the pinstripes still carry weight – they helped land Gerrit Cole and Max Fried – the Dodgers have lapped New York in both spending and winning over the past decade. That shift in baseball’s power structure matters when Boras is shopping his clients around.
“Gone are the days when the Yankees could get away with simply marketing the pinstripes,” Klapisch noted. “The brand isn’t what it used to be.”
Ownership knows what they’re facing. They’re preparing for a “long, drawn-out chess match” with the industry’s master negotiator, according to Klapisch. Boras operates in three dimensions while most front offices are still playing checkers.
Sure, Bellinger knows he’s a good fit in the Bronx. The outfielder/first baseman showed he can thrive in pinstripes during his time there. But fit doesn’t drive Boras’s decisions – dollar signs do.
The agent doesn’t work for any franchise or fanbase. He works for his clients’ bank accounts, which often puts him at odds with what teams have mapped out for their future.
So when people ask if the Yankees can bring Bellinger back, Klapisch’s assessment is simple: “It’s complicated.” Actually, scratch that – “It’s very complicated.”
The Yankees may have believed they had some sort of inside track, but that advantage evaporates once Boras starts fielding offers from across the league. What matters now isn’t clubhouse chemistry or fan connections.
It’s who’s willing to pay the most.
