Overview
- Multiple reports say the Yankees and Cody Bellinger remain apart on length, with New York around five years and Bellinger seeking seven, and one outlet notes opt-outs are being explored to bridge the gap.
- As talks drag, the Yankees have evaluated free-agent options Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker and checked trade avenues for Luis Robert Jr. and Nico Hoerner, with New York characterized as peripheral in Tucker’s market.
- The Mets recently met with Tucker over Zoom and, per reporting, have a three-year offer in the $120–$140 million range on the table, with sources describing the meeting as having gone well.
- Jon Heyman reports Bichette’s meeting with the Phillies went very well, positioning Philadelphia as a serious suitor while New York weighs its alternatives.
- Analysis highlights that Tucker’s qualifying-offer status increases draft-pick and tax costs for teams like the Dodgers, who favor shorter, high-AAV deals and are viewed as cautious on long-term commitments.