Both New York teams—one loaded with payroll, the other steeped in rings—started strong but faded fast. The Yankees made the playoffs only to fall in the ALDS, while the Mets missed October entirely. With the season wrapped, attention now turns to rebuilding for a 2026 playoff push as key players from both clubs opt out, shaking things up in the Big Apple.

Cody Bellinger said, “It was such a fun group to be a part of,” after losing to the Blue Jays in the ALDS and looking firm to spend another summer in Pinstripes, has now opted for free agency. While across town, the Mets face the same situation with their closer, Edwin Diaz. So, what makes this situation interesting? As per the analyst, the next possible fits for both are their cross-town rivals.

According to ESPN’s David Schoenfield, Bellinger presents an intriguing case. He topped the list in 2025 WAR, though his numbers come with an asterisk.

At Yankee Stadium, with its inviting right-field porch, Bellinger crushed it—hitting .302 with 18 home runs and a .909 OPS. On the road, however, his numbers dropped significantly to .241 with 11 home runs and a .715 OPS.

Still, his versatility across all three outfield positions and first base makes him valuable.

He further wrote, “Bellinger works for the Mets both in center field — heck, they were playing 33-year-old infielder Jeff McNeil out there at times — and at first, if they don’t re-sign Pete Alonso.”

Spotrac projects Bellinger will land a six-year, $182.7 million deal. His 2025 regular season production was solid—posting a .272 batting average with 29 home runs, 98 RBIs, and an .814 OPS across 588 at-bats. Those numbers show he can still produce at a high level when everything clicks.

Meanwhile, the Yankees are reportedly eyeing Diaz. MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch noted that All-Star reliever will “make sense if the Yankees wanted to check in Queens.” After a dominant 2025 season where he posted a 1.63 ERA with 62 games finished and 28 saves, while recording 98 strikeouts across 66.1 innings, Diaz proved he’s back to elite form. He’s projected to command around $102 million.

The Yankees’ bullpen struggled throughout the year, and adding a closer of that caliber could transform their late-game situation.

Even Cashman is impressed with his performance, which gives those whispers about a potential move some credence.

“He had a hell of a year,” Yankees GM Brian Cashman said about Diaz. “It was an amazing season he put together. And that trumpet is pretty awesome too.”

This offseason could deliver another chapter in the Subway Series rivalry. We’ve already seen how the Mets snatched Juan Soto from the Yankees. Could Bellinger be next? And for Cashman, targeting the Mets’ shutdown closer might be the redemption he’s looking for.

But what if the two best free agents wound up in the same clubhouse instead of on separate coasts?

A surprising pairing: Bellinger & Diaz under one roof

As the New York battle heats up, another team is waiting in the wings, ready and able to shake things up. The Los Angeles Dodgers are the current champions.

Reports say that even though the Dodgers have won the World Series two years in a row, they are still looking for ways to improve their roster. This would be a homecoming for Bellinger.

The team that picked him out of high school in Chandler, Arizona, gave him the Rookie of the Year award in 2017, the MVP award in 2019, and a World Series ring in 2020.

But why would the Dodgers? Michael Conforto is a free agent following a poor season in which he didn’t even make the playoff squad. This means that the Dodgers have a vacancy in left field. Bellinger’s comeback could be just what they need.

When it comes to Diaz, the Dodgers clearly need help in the bullpen. Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates both disappointed after joining the Dodgers last season, showing that they weren’t very good in late-game situations.

With Clayton Kershaw’s retirement, the Dodgers have both the money and the drive to go after top relievers. Díaz fits that criteria admirably after a great 2025 season.

The Yankees and Mets would have to watch their targets celebrate in Dodger blue if both teams ended up in Los Angeles.