ORLANDO — With Cody Bellinger a popular target in free agency, agent Scott Boras shed some light on the outfielder’s market while doing his best impression of The Riddler on Tuesday.
“It’s not for me to JUDGE, but great players see RED if they have a big bat YANKED out of their lineup,” Boras, purposely pausing after each capitalized work, said at the Winter Meetings. “I haven’t MET a team that DODGES a five-tool player. To PHIL the center field need is a GIANT step towards the playoffs. North and South outfielders that fly with power, they’re rare BIRDS. In the offseason, there’s a lot of start-up to organizations, and for that reason, there’s a lot of ANGEL investors that are looking for very versatile outfielders.
“So other than that, Belli doesn’t have much interest.”
Boras’ clues indicated that the Yankees’ competition for Bellinger includes the Reds, Mets, Dodgers, Phillies, Giants, Blue Jays and Angels. His comment came moments before news broke that the Phillies are in agreement on a five-year, $150 million deal with Kyle Schwarber.
The Yankees, especially Brian Cashman, have not been shy about their desire to retain Bellinger this winter after the 30-year-old, acquired from the Cubs last winter, slashed .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs, 98 RBI, 13 stolen bases and a 125 wRC+ over 152 games.
“He was an impactful player for us last year, and we’d love to have him back if it could fit for us,” Cashman said Sunday, though he declined to say if the Yankees had made a formal offer.
Boras, meanwhile, called Bellinger, whose dad wore pinstripes from 1999-2001, and the Yankees “an ideal fit” earlier this offseason.
Bellinger said he would “absolutely” be interested in remaining a Yankee after the team’s season ended in the ALDS, but that outcome is not guaranteed with other big spenders chasing the veteran.
Boras declined to provide a timeline for Bellinger’s decision.
“I can never predict markets because when owners get involved, they can do things at a moment’s notice,” he said.
On that note, Boras also wouldn’t say if Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner has been involved in negotiations thus far. However, he did say that talks with the Yankees about Bellinger are ongoing.
Boras added that he hasn’t gotten any indication the Yankees are looking to limit payroll this season, though saying otherwise wouldn’t do his clients any good.
“No, I don’t think when Cash or Randy [Levine] call me they talk about limiting payroll,” he said. “No, they don’t. They talk about acquiring players. They’ve never made mention of that.”
NO VISITS PLANNED FOR IMAI… YET
Boras said that another client, Japanese starter Tatsuya Imai, may visit the cities of interested suitors after the Winter Meetings. However, the right-hander doesn’t have any stops planned at the moment.
“We’ve got to really kind of narrow the interest,” Boras said.
The Yankees are among the interested parties, though Boras didn’t say so directly when asked.
“Cash and I have talked multiple times,” he said, “so we’re in communication about a number of players.”
