The Yankees’ saga with Cody Bellinger is still unfolding. He’s definitely hitting free agency, but the rumors keep swirling about where he might land, and whether New York still has a shot at bringing him back. Recently, though, something his wife said may offer a clue about who’s actually leading the chase.

According to Cubs insider Bruce Levine, Bellinger’s wife, Chase Carter, said their family enjoyed their time in Chicago. So, that’s fueled talk that Bellinger may be leaning toward a return to the North Side. However, some insiders believe the Cubs might be better off investing in other areas of the roster to maximize their chances of winning, rather than committing big money to Bellinger again.

“So if you have 150 million to spend to upgrade this team, that’s an imagined number, but are you choosing Dylan Cease or are you choosing Cody Bellinger?” Bleacher Nation host Michael Cerami questioned. “Again, not a hard conversation for me, but I think I mean you may it’s it’s really easy. You sign Dylan Cease,” MLB insider Brett Taylor responded.

Dylan Cease over Cody Bellinger? Yes!!!

Well, going after Cease wouldn’t be a bad move for the Cubs, especially after how their pitching fell apart in the postseason because of injuries and inconsistency. And since the season ended, they’ve lost several veteran relievers and Shota Imanaga, which only deepens the hole on the mound.

Now, Cease brings exactly what Chicago lacked last year: swing-and-miss stuff. He’s piled up at least 200 SOs in each of the last five seasons and led MLB in strikeouts per nine innings in both 2021 and 2025. For a Cubs rotation that ranked near the bottom of the league in strikeouts, he’d be an ideal upgrade.

So now, if the Cubs shift their focus to Cease rather than Bellinger, then Bellinger returning to the Yankees becomes a real possibility…

If you remember, he already said earlier this month that he’d “absolutely” be open to returning to New York, and Aaron Judge has also been vocal about how important he thinks Bellinger is to the team. Hence, with both sides interested, and Chicago potentially looking elsewhere, Judge might get precisely what he’s hoping for.

But guess what, Bellinger’s suitors are not limited to the Cubs only, there’s more…

The Yankees’ multi-dimensional competition for Bellinger

Notably, Bellinger is coming off a strong 2025 season, putting up 5.1 WAR with 29 HRs, 98 RBIs, and a .272 average.

And ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel projects him to land a six-year deal worth around $165 million. Now, when you compare that to Kyle Tucker potentially seeking a $400 million contract after a 22-homer year, it’s easy to see why Bellinger looks like a more appealing option for teams.

And here the race to get Bellinger begins…

The Mets are pushing hard. Bellinger’s versatility, being able to handle both first base and center field, makes him a perfect fit for them. And then there are the Giants. Buster Posey’s front office has been aggressive recently.

They added Matt Chapman on a $151 million extension, signed Willy Adames for $182 million, and traded for Rafael Devers.

So, Bellinger could easily be part of their ongoing push to get back into contention.

Hence, even if the Yankees manage to outmaneuver the Cubs for Bellinger, Aaron Judge, and Yankees fans still won’t be able to relax with teams like the Mets and Giants in the mix.