ORLANDO, Fla. — Surrounded by reporters in a packed hotel lobby on Day 2 of MLB’s Winter Meetings, agent Scott Boras delivered a master class in speaking in code when discussing his client Cody Bellinger’s free-agent market.
After the Philadelphia Phillies agreed to re-sign Kyle Schwarber to a five-year, $150 million contract, Bellinger might now be the second-best offensive player on the market, behind Kyle Tucker. The New York Yankees have made it known that they would like to re-sign Bellinger, with general manager Brian Cashman stating Sunday that he would “love” to have him back.
Boras creatively told reporters Tuesday morning at Signia by Hilton Orlando that nearly one-third of all MLB teams are interested in Bellinger. Before reading the paragraph after Boras’ quote below, see how many teams you’re able to identify.
“It’s not for me to judge, but great players see red if they have a big bat yanked out of their lineup,” the power agent said. “I haven’t met a team that dodges a five-tool player. To fill 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 startup 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.”
To recap: The teams interested in Bellinger, according to Boras, are the Yankees, Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Angels. It’s unclear how the Phillies signing Schwarber might impact their ability to sign another pricey player. The Dodgers agreed Tuesday to sign closer Edwin Díaz to a three-year, $69 million contract, but they haven’t shown much restraint in the market since Guggenheim Baseball Management took over ownership of the club.
“It’s not for me to Judge. Great players see Red if they have a big bat yanked out of their lineup. I haven’t Met a team that Dodges a five-tool player. To fill the center field need is a Giant step towards the playoffs.
North and south, outfielders that fly with power, they’re… pic.twitter.com/lPLweqUMTk
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) December 9, 2025
Boras said he didn’t know how long it might take Bellinger to sign, but it would make sense to let Tucker sign first. Theoretically, Bellinger’s market could improve if the teams that miss out on Tucker turn their attention to the next-best outfielder. That could impact the Yankees’ ability to retain him. Although perhaps indirectly through his public comments, Cashman has let Boras know he has other options if the negotiations with Bellinger wind up in a place the organization no longer wants to entertain.
“The one thing with (Trent) Grisham signing, we had two free agents that had left us in a very productive outfield between (Aaron) Judge, Cody and Grisham,” Cashman said Sunday. “We’ve got two of those three back. That gives us some comfort because, obviously, I have a lane that I can go with if the markets dictate that, but if I can find matches too that make enough sense, whether it’s free agents or challenge trades that pull me in a different direction, then we’re open-minded to that as well.
“Cody Bellinger would be a great fit for us. I think he’d be a great fit for anybody. I think he’s a very talented player that can play multiple positions at a high level and hits lefties, hits righties. He’s a contact guy, and I think our environment was a great one for him.”
Bellinger’s contract talks could go in several directions because the last time he went to the market after the 2023 season, the Chicago Cubs signed him to a three-year, $80 million deal with opt-outs after the first and second years. The Cubs ended up trading Bellinger to the Yankees last offseason in a salary-dump move that netted them Cody Poteet. Now, Bellinger, 30, is two years older and had slightly worse production with the Yankees than he did in his first season with the Cubs.
If the Yankees don’t re-sign Bellinger, it would leave a significant hole in their outfield. Cashman said Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones could wind up in a competition for the vacant left-field job. Both players have significant questions attached to their feasibility as everyday players; Domínguez was one of MLB’s worst defenders last season, and Jones struck out in more than 30 percent of his plate appearances across Double A and Triple A. Cashman also said the Yankees are too left-handed, which could make them open to looking at free agent Austin Hays as a platoon option with Domínguez. Hays had a 155 wRC+ versus lefty pitching last season with the Reds.
Not re-signing Bellinger would raise many questions about whether the Yankees plan to decrease their payroll from $319 million in 2025. In conversations with Cashman and team president Randy Levine, Boras said he hasn’t gotten the sense the Yankees are capping themselves in the market.
“I don’t think when Cash or Randy call me, they talk about limiting payroll,” Boras said. “They talk about acquiring players. They’ve never made mention of that. I go back to what they did with (Juan) Soto last year. (Owner) Hal (Steinbrenner), Randy and Cash did everything they could possibly do to pursue a great talent. I have no reason (to believe) that they wouldn’t approach this market any different than that.”
So far this offseason, the Yankees have picked up Tim Hill’s option, re-signed Ryan Yarbrough and gotten Grisham to accept the $22 million qualifying offer. Until there’s more clarity about how the Yankees plan to improve their roster, questions will remain on whether this team will be better in 2026.
