We’re nearing the home stretch of this season. While most around the league are fixated on the playoff push, the front offices can’t get too caught up in that. Rather, they’re plotting for the off-season. Over time, the New York Yankees’ $80 million star has proven to be their perfect Plan B after Juan Soto signed with the Mets. After Soto’s move to Queens, the Yankees and Mets nations did not expect they’d be having the same conversation again so soon. Yet, here we are, witnessing another possible Juan Soto-like steal between crosstown rivals.

Yankees’ $80 million star Cody Bellinger was acquired just weeks after he declined to opt out last off-season and stuck with his $27.5 million salary for 2025. Since his rushed acquisition, he has delivered above-average offense and incredible defense across all three outfield positions and sharp baserunning as well.

This season, his batting average sits at .270 with 22 home runs, 69 RBIs, and .816 OPS. He is exactly what the Yankees needed after Soto. But this is where it gets tricky. As laid out by the NY Post’s Jon Heyman, “the Mets ‘like’ Cody Bellinger.” Seconds after this was made public, it stirred unwelcome flashbacks to Soto’s controversial move.

Now, some insist Bellinger isn’t going anywhere, with Yankees fans not wanting to even imagine it. Bellinger was asked about his opt-out last month, and he was anything but vague about it. “The true answer is it’s just so far ahead. I really focus on the day-to-day.”

Meanwhile, the Metsies aren’t clamoring for him either. For now, their focus is firmly on keeping slugger Pete Alonso in Queens. Earlier in February, owner Steve Cohen and Alonso finally agreed to a two-year, $54 million deal with a player opt-out after this season.

Apparently, he is expected to use his opt-out and test the market again this winter. Perhaps he’s aiming for a long-term deal now. As for Bellinger, he’s a Scott Boras client, and little do we know about him; he does take his clients out into free agency to land them on a higher bid. After all, we all saw Boras’ success with Juan Soto.

Well, Bellinger isn’t getting any younger, and this could be his year to sign a better and long-term deal, but the Yankees fans are not ready to let him go just yet.

Yankees and Mets fans weigh in on Cody Bellinger’s future

Bellinger has been playing exceptionally well of late. He struggled a bit back in 2021-2022, but now he’s slashing incredibly. 270/.325/.491 and is one of the crucial pieces of the Yankees’ lineup. He’s 30 years old and, as it seems, the veteran would look to sign a better and long-term deal after this season. However, if that means he will have to move from the Bronx, the Yankees fans won’t let that happen this easily.

Of course, they got déjà vu from the controversial yet blockbuster Juan Soto’s move to Queens. “Ate crow for it with Soto last year. But Cody loves being a Yankee. If the Yankees have a real offer, I can’t see a move to New York B.” Bellinger actually loves being a Yankee! For starters, he’s the son of former Yankee Clay Bellinger. Given his history and his time in the Bronx, he himself has admitted, “I definitely love it here. I think it’s a great organization and it’s a great place to play.” Do you think, after all his love for the Bronx, he will move out for the sake of a higher bid and long-term contract?

Possibly at 30, he’s at his prime right now. It’s the best and probably the last chance for him to land a better contract. However, Mets fans aren’t really excited about this idea. “I’ll never forgive the Mets if that happens.” It comes from the sense of the Mets-Yankees’ longtime rivalry. For now, the Metsies want the club to focus on re-signing Pete Alonso, not acquiring Bellinger. It’s a win-win for both fan bases after all.

Some believe, “If Steve Cohen outbid Hal Steinbrenner for Juan Soto and then Cody Bellinger, we’d have to protest as Yankee fans. And then make Hal sell the team.” Well, Cohen managed to successfully outbid Hal Steinbrenner by offering $765 million to Soto. It stung Yankees fans for a long time. If Cohen again outbid the Yankees for Bellinger, it would feel like a second major talent loss to the Mets in a short span. That’s why it’s been a nightmare for Yankees Nation.

Some Metsies looked at this potential trade strategically: “I’d love to steal another lefty Yankee outfielder. But idk how he’d fit in the lineup with Nimmo, Soto, and Baty being lefties and Benge coming up.” Right now, Brandon Nimmo plays left field with Juan Soto playing right field, and Brett Baty is also a lefty bat. And with enough lefties and limited outfield spots, adding Bellinger would mean adding more congestion rather than relief.

As per fans who are neutral about the trade, they believe, “Yeah, they should’ve traded for him, considering the Yankees gave up peanuts for him. Now he’s the second-best player on their team.” The Yankees took the bulk of Bellinger’s $27.5 million salary, but Chicago kicked in $5 million to New York in the deal. That’s a relatively small price for a former MVP-type player. Now, he has become the club’s second-best position player behind Aaron Judge, stacking up 3.6 bWAR.

We will have to wait a while to know the Yankees star’s ultimate future home!