Overview
- ESPN reporting indicates Cody Bellinger plans to opt out of his $25 million player option and enter free agency next month.
- Recent estimates forecast a major deal for Bellinger, including a five-year, $140 million projection and Spotrac’s six-year, $182.7 million valuation.
- Analysts have floated Cleveland’s Steven Kwan as a lower-cost alternative, citing elite defense, high contact skills, and a projected $8.8 million arbitration salary for 2026.
- Reports suggest Cleveland could field offers for Kwan, who is under team control through 2027, though a trade would likely require significant prospect capital.
- The decision could redirect resources toward pitching and bullpen upgrades, even as some insiders argue Bellinger’s center-field and first-base versatility and lack of a qualifying offer fit New York well.