<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/way-too-early-cody-bellinger-predictions-with-yankees');   ga('set', 'title', 'Way-too-early Cody Bellinger predictions with Yankees');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Way-too-early-Cody-Bellinger-predictions-with-Yankees-1.jpg"></figure><h1>Way-too-early Cody Bellinger predictions with Yankees</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-23T17:08:01-08:00">December 23rd, 5:08pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-23T17:08:01-08:00">December 23rd, 5:08pm</time><address><a>Russell Steinberg</a>Russell Steinberg covers Major League Baseball and the New York Liberty for ClutchPoints. A baseball and basketball lifer, he has written for Boardroom, SLAM, SB Nation, The Next, and more. He graduated from NYU in 2012 and still returns to serve as PA announcer and occasional broadcaster for the school’s basketball and volleyball teams.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>For a while, it seemed like it wouldn’t happen, but <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/yankees-news-new-york-acquires-cody-bellinger-cubs-blockbuster-trade">Cody Bellinger is now a member of the New York Yankees</a>. The reigning American League champions acquired him and cash from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for pitcher Cody Poteet on December 17, giving the Yankees needed help to their lineup.</p><p>And while Bellinger is a former MVP, it’s hard to predict what to expect from him in 2025. After his MVP season with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019, his performance cratered, reaching a nadir in 2021, when, in an injury-shortened season, he hit .165 with -1.7 bWAR. His 2022 season was better, but still below-average, and he signed with the Chicago Cubs in 2023 looking to salvage his career.</p><p>Bellinger did exactly that, hitting .307 with 26 home runs in 2023, before taking a small step back this past season. Despite his inconsistency, insiders think he is set up to succeed in New York.</p><p>“People believe <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-cody-bellinger-aaron-judge-play-after-yankees-trade">Yankee Stadium is going to be a good fit</a> for him,” MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand said <a href="https://x.com/MLBNetwork/status/1869160273610740021" rel="noopener">in the aftermath</a> of the trade. “Left-handed guys with power certainly seem to thrive in that ballpark with the short right field porch. He’s not going to have to come in and be an MVP in the middle of the lineup.”</p><p>Without the pressure of needing to carry a lineup, but with a considerable advantage like that short Yankee Stadium porch, here are some way-too-early predictions for how Bellinger can perform in 2025.</p><h2><b>Cody Bellinger will hit more home runs than any season since his 2019 MVP campaign</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Cody-Bellinger-1-1.jpg"><figcaption>Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The number to beat is 26 — the home run total from his resurgent 2023 season. Bellinger hit 47 home runs in 2019 and it would be unreasonable to expect that out of him next year, even in a ballpark like Yankee Stadium. FanGraphs <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/cody-bellinger/15998/stats?position=1B/OF" rel="noopener">projects</a> him to hit 23, so upper-20s is certainly within reach. And <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/yankees-news-cody-bellinger-mvp-potential-in-the-tank">Bellinger himself believes</a> he still has that sort of power left in the tank.</p><p>“I’ve done it, had a good amount of home runs my rookie year. I do think that it is in the tank,” he said in an appearance on the YES Network. “You never know the future, I try not to set future numbers, I just want to go out and play the best baseball I can play — defense, running the bases, and just helping the team win.”</p><p>For those wondering how well he can take advantage of the short porch in the Bronx, Bellinger hits about half of his home runs to the pull side and nearly the rest to centerfield. Yankee Stadium is 314 feet down the right field line, a reasonable distance, but hitters feast in the right-center area where the fence does not move as far back as it does in most other parks. It eventually hits 385 in right-center, but not before the area immediately in front of the bleachers swallows up more than its share of fly balls.</p><h2><b>Bellinger will spend most of his time in centerfield</b></h2><p>One of the benefits to the Yankees trading for Bellinger is that he gives the team some needed versatility. Aaron Judge spent most of the 2024 season in centerfield, but with Bellinger and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/yankees-aaron-judge-jasson-dominguez-plans-after-juan-soto-departure">top prospect Jasson Dominguez in tow</a>, he can slide back over to right field.</p><p>Bellinger has only played 41 career games in left field, so while that’s technically on the table, Dominguez is far more likely to play there, at least for the time being. The Yankees probably do not want to keep Judge — their team captain, American League home run king and two-time MVP — in centerfield as he approaches his mid-thirties, leaving Bellinger as the most likely candidate.</p><p>The new Yankee could also play first base if something happens to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/yankees-news-paul-goldschmidt-12-5-million-contract">recent signee Paul Goldschmidt</a>. Goldschmidt is a former National League MVP and has played at least 150 games in every full season since 2015. That run has to end sometime, but his durability was a major draw for a Yankees team whose veterans have struggled to stay healthy in the recent past.</p><h2><b>The Yankees’ outfielder will exercise his option and stay with New York after 2025</b></h2><p>Bellinger came to the Yankees with two years remaining on his deal with the Cubs. He’ll earn $27.5 million in 2025, with the Yankees on the hook for $25 million of that. Bellinger also has a $25 million player option for 2026, his age 30 season, with a $5 million buyout.</p><p>He makes too much sense in New York for him to opt out of that deal. With it not terribly likely that Bellinger ascends all the way back to his MVP form and commands a much bigger contract, the odds of him exercising his option feel higher than not.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Way-too-early Cody Bellinger predictions with Yankees

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/yankees-news-cody-bellinger-mvp-potential-in-the-tank');   ga('set', 'title', 'Yankees’ Cody Bellinger claims there’s still MVP potential ‘in the tank’');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/12-19-24-bellinger-featured.jpeg"></figure><h1>Yankees’ Cody Bellinger claims there’s still MVP potential ‘in the tank’</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-19T12:42:06-08:00">December 19th, 12:42pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-19T12:42:06-08:00">December 19th, 12:42pm</time><address><a>David Korn</a>David Korn is an MLB associate editor at ClutchPoints. He is also a producer at MLB Network Radio and covers college basketball for A10Talk. David graduated from George Washington in 2023, where he was the radio play-by-play broadcaster for their Men's and Women's Basketball teams.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Cody Bellinger had a disappointing 2024 season with the Chicago Cubs. After <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/yankees-news-new-york-acquires-cody-bellinger-cubs-blockbuster-trade">being traded to the New York Yankees, Bellinger</a> is hoping to turn things around and get back to the MVP-level he has shown that he can play at earlier in his career.</p><p>During a <a href="https://twitter.com/YESNetwork/status/1869784833649459655" rel="noopener">media availability</a> on Thursday after his trade to the Yankees became official, Bellinger addressed what his expectations are for himself per YES Network.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Cody Bellinger speaks on his offensive expectations. <a href="https://t.co/twMDFeyImK">pic.twitter.com/twMDFeyImK</a></p><p>— YES Network (@YESNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/YESNetwork/status/1869784833649459655?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>“That’s what keeps me motivated. I know what I can do, I know what I’ve done. That’s what I strive for every single year,” Bellinger said. “I want to be the best player I can be. I expect that out of myself and I’m probably pretty hard on myself, I think people around me would probably say that. But I expect that out of me, that’s what I want, and that’s what I strive for every day of the offseason and every day in the season.”</p><p>Bellinger was then asked if he thought the 47 home runs he hit during his MVP season in 2019 was an outlier, or something he could replicate again.</p><p>“I’ve done it, had a good amount of home runs my rookie year. I do think that it is in the tank,” Bellinger continued. “You never know the future, I try not to set future numbers, I just want to go out and play the best baseball I can play–defense, running the bases, and just helping the team win.”</p><h2><b>What Cody Bellinger will bring to the New York Yankees</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/12-19-24-bellinger-image.jpeg"><figcaption>© Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>While it is unlikely that Bellinger recreates the MVP-type performance he showed during the 2019 season, he is still a valuable addition to the Yankees.</p><p>The most important thing that Bellinger will bring to the Yankees is his defensive versatility. Bellinger can play first base, right field and center field. With some holes still left on their roster, that level of versatility <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-whats-next-yankees-after-cody-bellinger-trade">allows the Yankees to continue pursuing</a> outfielders and first basemen in free agency and through trades this offseason.</p><p>If the Yankees are able to sign a first baseman in free agency like Pete Alonso or Christian Walker, then Bellinger can shift to center field, allowing Aaron Judge to slide back to his natural position in right field. But, if the Yankees decide to target an outfielder like Teoscar Hernandez or Anthony Santander, then Bellinger could get more reps at first base.</p><p>Bellinger’s offensive performances throughout his career have been very up and down. However, if he is able to play similarly to how he did during the 2023 season with the Cubs where he hit .307 with 26 home runs, the Yankees would be thrilled.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Yankees’ Cody Bellinger claims there’s still MVP potential ‘in the tank’

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/yankees-news-cody-bellinger-new-york-trade-cubs');   ga('set', 'title', 'How Cody Bellinger truly feels about Yankees trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Yankees-news-How-Cody-Bellinger-truly-feel-about-New-York-trade.jpg"></figure><h1>How Cody Bellinger truly feels about Yankees trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-19T09:59:16-08:00">December 19th, 9:59am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-19T10:02:25-08:00">December 19th, 10:02am</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joey.mistretta/" rel="facebook">Joey Mistretta</a>Joey Mistretta is a Dallas Mavericks beat reporter, Dallas Wings beat reporter and lead MLB editor for ClutchPoints. He is originally from Lake Arrowhead, California. Mistretta graduated from Biola University with a degree in broadcast journalism.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Cody Bellinger is preparing for the next chapter in his MLB career after being <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/yankees-news-new-york-acquires-cody-bellinger-cubs-blockbuster-trade">traded from the Chicago Cubs to the New York Yankees</a>. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/yankees-news-fans-singing-hallelujah-after-fleecing-cubs-cody-bellinger-trade">Bellinger trade has Yankees fans excited</a>, and the former MVP <a href="https://x.com/YESNetwork/status/1869782166885765430" rel="noopener">happens to feel the same way</a>.</p><p>“Everything about it excites me,” Bellinger said recently, via YES Network. “The organization, the fans, the stadium, the atmosphere. I actually have only played there once and that was in 2023, and was a really cool moment. I’ve heard really amazing things about everything… I’m just excited to be apart of it. I’m excited to get to work.”</p><p>Bellinger’s father, Clay, spent three seasons in the big leagues with the Yankees. Cody <a href="https://x.com/YESNetwork/status/1869777628464283992" rel="noopener">addressed the connection to the organization</a> through his dad.</p><p>“It is truly wild,” Bellinger said. “When I got the news, I called him, he was very excited. He plays it all cool, but I know deep down he’s really excited… I have some very solid memories of it.”</p><h2><b>Cody Bellinger dishes on potential with Yankees</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Cody-Bellinger.jpg"><figcaption>Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Bellinger, 29, hit 47 home runs and recorded a 1.035 OPS in 2019 with the Los Angeles Dodgers en route to winning the National League MVP Award. He has been unable to replicate those numbers, though, he did hit 26 home runs to go along with an .881 OPS in 2023 with the Cubs.</p><p>So does Bellinger still feature an MVP-level ceiling? Can he come anywhere close to hitting 47 home runs again?</p><p>“Well, that’s what keeps me motivated,” Bellinger <a href="https://x.com/YESNetwork/status/1869784833649459655" rel="noopener">said</a>. “I know what I can do and I know what I’ve done… That’s what I strive for every single year. I want to be the best player I can be. I expect that out of myself. I’m probably pretty hard on myself, I think people around me can say that. But I expect that out of me, that’s what I want and that’s what I strive for.”</p><p>Bellinger added that a potential 47 home run-like season is “in the tank.” He explained that he doesn’t want to focus on specific numbers, however, as he just wants to “play the best baseball” he can while “helping the team win.”</p><p>Cody Bellinger is a quality defender in the outfield who also features the ability to play first base if necessary. His defensive prowess and versatility will help the Yankees, but his offensive ceiling is what makes the addition especially exciting. With Yankee Stadium featuring a short right field porch, perhaps Bellinger can turn back the clock and enjoy a 2025 season with no shortage of home runs.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

How Cody Bellinger truly feels about Yankees trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb-rumors-yankees-engaged-with-pete-alonso-christian-walker-despite-cody-bellinger-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Yankees engaged with Pete Alonso, Christian Walker despite Cody Bellinger trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MLB-rumors-Yankees-engaged-with-Pete-Alonso-Christian-Walker-despite-Cody-Bellinger-trade.jpg"></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Yankees engaged with Pete Alonso, Christian Walker despite Cody Bellinger trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-19T08:26:13-08:00">December 19th, 8:26am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-19T08:26:13-08:00">December 19th, 8:26am</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New York Yankees have had to work overtime in their quest to replace the production they’re set to lose in 2025 with the departure of Juan Soto for the New York Mets on a 15-year, $765 million contract. They have already begun reworking their outfield, acquiring Cody Bellinger in a trade with the Chicago Cubs and taking on his huge contract in exchange for Cody Poteet — which is expected to move Aaron Judge back to his <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-cody-bellinger-aaron-judge-play-after-yankees-trade">more comfortable position at right field</a>.</p><p>Bellinger, however, is no longer the MVP-caliber player he once was. In fact, his 2024 campaign saw a bit of regression in Bellinger’s production, as he wasn’t his usual good defensive self in center field and he only produced a wRC+ of 109 — down from his 2023 production of 136. Thus, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-whats-next-yankees-after-cody-bellinger-trade">Yankees acknowledge</a> that more has to be done in making sure that their offense doesn’t suffer too much of a drop-off next season.</p><p>To that end, the Yankees are looking at <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/12/18/sports/yankees-remain-engaged-in-free-agent-market-including-with-pete-alonso/?utm_campaign=nypost_sports&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;sr_share=twitter" rel="noopener">adding another impactful bat</a>, with general manager Brian Cashman saying that “he remains engaged with the agents of most ‘above average’ options available at the spots, as well as in the outfield”, as per Dan Martin of the New York Post. That list includes first basemen Pete Alonso, Christian Walker, Carlos Santana, and Paul Goldschmidt, while they have also kept in contact with Anthony Santander, a corner outfielder/first baseman who hit 44 home runs last season.</p><h2><b>Yankees continue quest to bolster lineup depth</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Cody-Bellinger-2.jpg"><figcaption>Kyle Ross-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Losing Juan Soto is a bitter pill to swallow for the Yankees; Soto combined with Aaron Judge to form the deadliest duo in the MLB, with both hitters elevating one another. Soto put up an MVP-caliber 2024, tallying 8.1 WAR (per Fangraphs) — the best total of his career.</p><p>Of course, it’s not the same for the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/yankees-news-giancarlo-stantons-calming-message-juan-soto-mets">Yankees to acquire multiple players</a> worth 8.1 WAR combined in their quest to replace Soto. But they cannot sit idly and not do anything to round out the roster so they won’t fall off the pace after making it to the World Series this past season.</p><p>Pete Alonso could be a worthwhile get, if only to get back at the Mets, but the trend of his production is worrying as he enters his 30s. Christian Walker is solid, but he’s 33 years of age, and he doesn’t possess the power upside that Alonso has. Carlos Santana is an ageless wonder, but there is reason to believe he won’t keep up the 3.0 WAR-level of play that he had last season. Paul Goldschmidt’s days as an everyday player might be over.</p><p>In terms of pure power production, the Yankees’ best bet may be to add Anthony Santander, whose production has been trending upward over the past three seasons.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: Yankees engaged with Pete Alonso, Christian Walker despite Cody Bellinger trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/the-scott-boras-wrinkle-to-yankees-cody-bellinger-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'The Scott Boras wrinkle to Yankees’ Cody Bellinger trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/The-Scott-Boras-wrinkle-to-NYs-Cody-Bellinger-trade.jpg"></figure><h1>The Scott Boras wrinkle to Yankees’ Cody Bellinger trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-18T12:57:38-08:00">December 18th, 12:57pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-18T12:57:38-08:00">December 18th, 12:57pm</time><address><a>Christopher Hennessy</a>Christopher Hennessy graduated with a journalism degree from Fordham University in 2022. He has also worked at Spectrum News One in Albany, New York and with The Hockey Writers as a New York Islanders writer. Chris is originally from Connecticut and is a lifelong New York Yankees, Islanders, and Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New York Yankees made a<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/yankees-news-new-york-acquires-cody-bellinger-cubs-blockbuster-trade"> trade for Cody Bellinger this week</a>. They picked him up from the Chicago Cubs after they beat New York out in the Kyle Tucker sweepstakes. Bellinger’s dad, Clay Bellinger, was a Yankee and the son has always wanted to follow in his footsteps. General manager Brian Cashman said that agent Scott Boras <a href="https://x.com/BryanHoch/status/1869474546908369273" rel="noopener">has been trying to get</a> Cody Bellinger to the Yankees for a while.</p><p>“I’ve been hearing it for a long time, including his agent Scott Boras saying, ‘Can you get him over here? He’s driving me crazy. He wants to be a Yankee,'” Cashman said, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.</p><p>The trade sent Cody Poteet to the Cubs, a low price considering what Tucker went for. But, according to Cashman, the Yankees were<a href="https://x.com/BryanHoch/status/1869473720202633334" rel="noopener"> not the only team involved</a>. More from the GM per Hoch.</p><p>“Brian Cashman said the Cubs decided Cody Bellinger was getting traded [Tuesday]. ‘I know the other destination. I won’t say who it was, but if we didn’t pull him down, he would’ve been off the board.'”</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mets-news-juan-soto-new-york-agree-million-contract-free-agency">Yankees lost Juan Soto to the New York Mets</a> in free agency. After they made the World Series in Soto’s one season in The Bronx, they needed to add a lot to replace him. Bellinger is just the first offensive move.</p><h2><b>The Yankees must continue to add after Cody Bellinger</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Cody-Bellinger-with-Chicago-Cubs-1.jpg"><figcaption>Kyle Ross-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>While they will not be able to replace Juan Soto, they can replace him in the aggregate, as Billy Beane once said. Trading for Bellinger is the first step to doing that. He is even an upgrade defensively, as he will be the centerfielder and bump Aaron Judge back to right field. But the offense lost one of the best hitters on the planet and they need more.</p><p>The Yankees also lost Gleyber Torres and Anthony Rizzo this offseason. While they have not signed anywhere yet, a reunion is unlikely. Torres hit lead-off throughout the playoffs and Rizzo is another lefty they’re looking to replace. Christian Walker is a great contender to replace Rizzo at first. He is a Gold Glove-caliber defender and hits for power.</p><p>The Yankees have more options at second base because of their trade for Jazz Chisholm last year. Chisholm played third but has a ton of experience at second. They could pick up a third baseman like Alex Bregman or a second baseman like Jorge Polanco to finish off their reconstructed infield.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2024 SEASON STATS
IP	ERA	K	WHIP	WINS
206	3.67	44	1.31	3

2024 SEASON STATS
IP	ERA	K	WHIP	WINS
206	3.67	44	1.31	3

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PITCHING STATS

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