Overview
- New York remains engaged with Bellinger as rivals including the Dodgers, Mets and Blue Jays show interest, with his strong Yankee Stadium production cited as a key selling point.
- Cashman noted the club’s budget could move based on opportunities, with payroll around $281 million after Trent Grisham accepted a $22.025 million qualifying offer and several players were non‑tendered.
- Observers warn that Scott Boras’s negotiation style could make a Bellinger deal lengthy and expensive, challenging the idea that the Yankees hold an inside track.
- Grisham re‑signing has thinned an already weak center‑field market, leaving few options beyond Bellinger and pushing teams like the Mets, Phillies, Tigers and Astros to consider alternatives.
- Analysts suggest a pivot to pursuing a trade for Fernando Tatís Jr. if Bellinger’s price soars, a scenario that would require a major prospect package and could reshape plans for Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones.