Cody Bellinger and the Yankees finalize $162.5 million, 5-year contract

Audio By Carbonatix

NEW YORK (AP) — Cody Bellinger and the New York Yankees finalized a $162.5 million, five-year contract on Monday that keeps the slugger in pinstripes.

Bellinger became the last of the top free-agent hitters to reach a deal this offseason when the sides agreed to terms last Wednesday, subject to a successful physical. He gets a $20 million signing bonus, half payable April 1 and the remainder on Aug. 1, and a full no-trade provision.

He receives a $32.5 million salary in each of the first two seasons, $25.8 million in the next two and $25.9 million in 2030.

Bellinger has the right to opt out after the 2027 or 2028 seasons to become a free agent again, but if there is a work stoppage that leads to no games being played in 2027, the agreement specifies the opt outs will shift to after the 2028 and 2029 seasons.

A two-time All-Star acquired by the Yankees from the Chicago Cubs in December 2024, Bellinger hit .272 with 29 homers and 98 RBIs last year — including .302 with 18 homers and 55 RBIs at Yankee Stadium. A left-handed hitter, he played 149 games in the outfield and seven at first base in his first season since 2022 without a stint on the injured list.

He is a son of former Yankees player Clay Bellinger.

Voted the 2017 National League Rookie of the Year and 2019 NL MVP, Bellinger has a .261 career batting average with 225 homers and 695 RBIs in eight seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2018-22), the Cubs (2023-24) and the Yankees.

He earned $57.5 million from the $80 million, three-year contract he reached with the Cubs before the 2024 season. Bellinger declined a $25 million option for 2026 in favor of a $5 million buyout.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB