It was not the confident tone fans hear from Brian Cashman. This time pointed out an uncertainty more than control. While praising the outfielder, the GM even pointed out that the team could face a difficult truth. 

“He was an impact player for us. I’m glad we got him. Certainly expect him to opt out. And again, I don’t know. We haven’t gotten to those conversations yet. We are in our HR version of winter so far,” Cashman calmly answered when asked if Cody Bellinger would be the Yankees’ top priority. While talking about the options from both inside and outside the team, he even pointed out how impactful Bellinger was for the Yanks.

“He was really impactful for us… One of the many reasons why we were in a position to believe that we were capable of great things this year… So, I thank him for everything he’s done. Certainly would love to have him with our team moving forward, but we haven’t had any of those discussions. Haven’t had any conversations with Scott Boras. But bouquets his way, without a doubt. He helped us on both sides of the ball, offense, defense. He’s a versatile player. He was great in our clubhouse,” the GM added.

The Yankees’ offseason situation is already cloudy.

With multiple roster positions opening up, Brian Cashman clearly said that balancing the payroll while analyzing internal skill will define the Yankees’ next approach. “We’ll have some free agency that’s going to hit that’ll create some vacancies,” Cashman mentioned. “We’ve got to weigh the available marketplace via free agency or trades, with the committed payroll vs. the available payroll thereafter. And measure opportunities for some players that are knocking on the door, earning the right to take the next step from down below,” he explained.

However, beneath the diplomatic statement lies a reality that the team can not ignore.

Cody Bellinger has already opted out of a $25 million player option from the Yankees and entered free agency. Such a decision has ignited interest from multiple other teams. Bellinger’s stat line also supports the context.

He hit .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs and 98 RBI. 

Still, Bellinger’s position on the Yanks is far from ensured. Brendan Kuty of The Athletic highlighted that “keeping him should be the Yankees’ first priority.” Yet Locked On Yankees warned that his asking price could cross $210 million over seven seasons.

“He can wind up getting over $200 million. He’s still a legit defender. He could play multiple positions… Yeah, I think there’s a world…where he signs for seven years, 210. That’s 30 million a year… And honestly, if I’m the Yankees, I’d live with that. I think he’s worth it. And I think his game translates, too. Again, he’s got this power velocity. If he is a contact player who doesn’t strike out a lot, that translates to older age. It just does. Yeah. And it’s better for the Yankees.”

But Cashman’s statement, though polite, highlighted a team bracing for transformation. Unless something shifts quickly, the Yankees’ “impact player” could only be part of their talks, not their 2026 roster.

And suddenly, another contender is getting prepared to pounce on the opportunity to deal with Bellinger.

The Phillies emerge as a serious threat to lure Bellinger away from the Yankees

As speculations surround Cody Bellinger’s future in New York, the Philadelphia Phillies are silently positioning themselves as a key landing spot. As per Scott Lauber, The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Phillies see this offseason as a turning point after underperforming in the playoffs. With slugger Kyle Schwarber hitting the open market, the front office faces a vital choice: Strengthening power or rebuilding the roster with defense and offense. And that is where Bellinger’s name comes into the picture.

Lauber stated, “The expectation within the sport is Schwarber will seek five years, unprecedented for a DH who will be 33 next season. Maybe he’ll settle for four. Regardless, his annual salary will climb toward $30 million. But are the Phillies better off signing, say, 30-year-old Cody Bellinger at a similar price?”

Bellinger not only achieved a 1.016 OPS opposite lefties in 2025, but he also struck out only 13.7% of the time, approximately half of Schwarber’s rate, while delivering elite defense at both in the outfield as well as first base.

Adding to that argument, his this season’s overall bWAR was 5.0, and it narrowly topped Schwarber’s 4.8 bWAR, with Bellinger’s value coming from the star’s two-way game.

Despite delivering twice as many home runs as Bellinger and driving in 34 additional RBIs, Schwarber’s role is struck with the designated hitter position. Such a restriction could push Rob Thomson to rethink the Phillies’ balance, especially with Bryce Harper needing periodic DH at-bats.

Finally, Philadelphia’s pursuit may rely on its philosophy. If the Phillies want overwhelming offensive firepower, Schwarber’s comeback makes sense. But if they seek speed, versatility, and balance, Bellinger might be the perfect choice. With both players dominating around $30 million yearly, the decision may come down to which version of the Phillies front office shows up: The one hunting home runs or the one established for long-term balance.