Cody Bellinger

Cody Bellinger already had an NL MVP, a World Series ring, and a Rookie of the Year trophy before he ever put on pinstripes. The former Dodgers star signed with the New York Yankees ahead of the 2025 season and immediately gave the lineup something it desperately needed -- a left-handed bat with serious pop and the kind of pedigree that plays in October. When he's locked in, few hitters in baseball are more dangerous.

Path to the Bronx

Bellinger's road to the Bronx started in Los Angeles, where he was a fourth-round pick out of Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona, back in 2013. His dad Clay pitched in the big leagues for 11 seasons, so the baseball bloodlines were always there. Cody broke through fast -- winning NL Rookie of the Year in 2017, then the NL MVP in 2019 when he hit .305/.406/.629 with 47 home runs and won a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger in the same year. He was the first Dodger to pull off that triple in a single season.

But things got complicated. Bellinger's production cratered after 2019, bottoming out so badly that the Dodgers non-tendered him after 2022. He rebuilt his swing with the Cubs over two seasons -- showing real signs of life, especially in 2024 -- and then hit free agency again. The Yankees came calling with a one-year, $12.5 million prove-it deal for 2025, and Bellinger went out and proved it.

Yankees Career

Bellinger's first season in pinstripes was exactly what the front office hoped for. Stepping into the lineup alongside Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr., he provided consistent production from the left side and played solid defense in left field. His bat played especially well at Yankee Stadium, where he slugged .302 with 18 homers in 80 home games.

That production earned him a massive payday. After the season, Bellinger and the Yankees went back and forth for weeks before finally landing on a five-year, $162.5 million extension -- the largest free-agent deal the Yankees handed out that winter. The contract includes opt-outs after the second and third years, a full no-trade clause, and no deferred money.

Key Moments

The Fit

Bellinger gives the Yankees something they've lacked for years -- a legitimate left-handed middle-of-the-order hitter who can also play center field in a pinch. His ability to hit right-handed pitching, combined with above-average defense and smart baserunning, makes him a complete player. The fact that he mashed at Yankee Stadium (.302 at home) suggests the short right-field porch is going to be his best friend for the next half decade.

At 30, he's entering his prime contract years. If the Bellinger who showed up in 2025 is the version the Yankees get going forward, the $162.5 million will look like a bargain.