Brian Cashman reiterated his desire to keep Cody Bellinger on Wednesday, as the general manager said the Yankees are “very interested” in re-signing the free agent.
“Certainly, we’d be better served if we could retain him,” Cashman said before adding, “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: of course, we’d like to have him back.”
Cashman, who spoke remotely over Zoom due to a last-minute, non-baseball obligation with other heads of baseball ops in Las Vegas for the GM Meetings, offered those comments when asked if Bellinger is the Yankees’ top priority this winter. It’s been widely reported that the 30-year-old is after hitting .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs, 98 RBI, 13 stolen bases and a 125 wRC+ this past season, his first with the Bombers after being traded by the Cubs in a salary dump last winter.
After the Yankees were bounced from the playoffs by the Blue Jays in the ALDS, Bellinger said he would “absolutely” be interested in returning to the pinstripers, who employed his father, Clay, from 1999-2001.
“I had an unbelievable time putting on this uniform,” added Bellinger, who turned down a $25 million player option. “Yankee Stadium, the fans, the organization, the culture that these guys have created in this locker room, it really is special. It’s such a fun group. It was a fun group to be a part of.”
Cashman said the Yankees and Bellinger are still in the early stages of the 2019 MVP’s free agency process. However, Bellinger’s agent, Scott Boras, said Wednesday that he’s already spoken to the Yanks about his client.
Boras touted Bellinger as “the only five-tool free agent outfielder.” It was a not-so-subtle nod to Kyle Tucker, the better overall player and more expensive free agent, but a lesser defender in the corner outfield spots compared to Bellinger.
Boras, a huge fan of puns, also made several “Top Gun” references when discussing Bellinger, calling the put-him-anywhere outfielder and infrequent first baseman a “versatile viper” on defense, a “middle-of-the-lineup Merlin,” an “Iceman” who “cooled” concerns over who would hit behind Aaron Judge, and an “urban maverick” because he’s had success in baseball’s three biggest markets: Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.
Boras added that Bellinger enjoyed his time in the Bronx this past season.
“I just think the whole dynamic suited him and suited them,” the representative said. “It was really an ideal fit.”
Still, Bellinger will talk to other suitors. With Boras stating that the veteran wants to play for a contender, the Blue Jays, Mets and Dodgers, Bellinger’s original team, could make sense, among others. Wherever Tucker ends up — it’s unclear where the Yankees stand on the 28-year-old, who could make over $350 million — could influence where Bellinger goes.
One factor that shouldn’t impact Bellinger and a potential reunion with the Yankees is Trent Grisham’s one-year qualifying offer, which is worth just over $22 million.
Grisham, coming off a career year with the Yankees, has until Nov. 18 to accept or reject the offer. If he rejects it and signs elsewhere, the Yankees will get draft pick compensation.
If Grisham accepts, the Yankees would be stuck with a high-priced salary as rumors swirl that Hal Steinbrenner would like to keep the team’s payroll under $300 million. However, Cashman said he hasn’t gotten an “ultimate” number, and that payroll “usually is not an issue” for his club.
Cashman also said the Yankees were “comfortable” extending the qualifying offer to Grisham in a “thin outfield market” and that him potentially accepting it wouldn’t prohibit negotiations with Bellinger, who should command a nine-figure deal.
“We’d be happy if [Grisham] accepted and came back,” Cashman said. “If we get a call at some point that he accepts, our conversations with Scott Boras on Bellinger will continue, and we’ll see where that takes us. And if [Grisham] rejects, we’ll be talking to both Grisham and Bellinger regardless, and then we’ll continue keeping an eye on the guys we have from within.”
While neither played the position well according to advanced metrics last year, Bellinger and Grisham are capable of manning center field. If the Yankees don’t retain at least one of them, they will have limited external options in the middle of the outfield.
Former Yankee Harrison Bader and Cedric Mullins are among the best free agent options, while the White Sox could make Luis Robert Jr. available after two down seasons.
The Yankees do have one more internal option for center in top prospect Spencer Jones, but his high strikeout and poor contact rates come with concerns, even after a monstrous season split between Double-A and Triple-A.
Cashman volunteered that Jones has been working out at Yankee Stadium after putting a request in to the team, and he will head to Tampa later this offseason ahead of spring training.
Cashman also noted that Jasson Domínguez is playing winter ball in his native Dominican Republic — the Escogido Baseball Club is supposed to activate The Martian next week — but the Yankees consider the limited defender a left fielder despite primarily playing center in the minors.
Domínguez and/or Jones could impact the Yankees’ outfield in 2026, depending on how this offseason plays out. Then again, they could also become trade chips.
“We could lose both Grisham and Bellinger to free agency,” Cashman acknowledged, “and then it puts a lot more stress and pressure on those internal options. If one of those guys comes back, it creates nice competition. If both come back, then maybe it creates trade flexibility.”
