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Will Cody Bellinger’s Father’s Yankees Legacy Impact His Free Agency?

Published 11/06/2023, 2:37 AM EST

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Cody Bellinger is a buzz in the Bronx. As the New York Yankees get ready to start making trades and signing free agents, they have a hawk eye on Cody Bellinger. Owing to his father, Clay Bellinger, who was a player during the NY Yankees’ 90s dynasty, Cody is a born and bred Yankee. 

If acquired by the Yankees, Cody could potentially rebuild the dynasty with a tinge of newness. Clearly, the Yankees’ requirement is a productive lefty bat with solid athleticism. Cody fits that criteria well. But will Clay’s history in the Bronx possibly up his son’s chances? 

Cody Bellinger’s Long-Standing Association With The New York Yankees

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Bellinger’s father Clay holds a massive legacy, having played in the big league infielding for the New York Yankees. There, he won two World Series titles in 1999 and 2000 and Cody was only a six-year-old spectator to his father’s success. Perhaps this pushed him to pursue professional baseball. However, who knew that years later, when he turned 28, New York would target him during his free agency? 

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With a World Series championship, an MVP honor, and a Rookie of the Year award under his belt, Cody Bellinger has an outstanding career. Even though it was a juiced ball season, he was a force in the past, hitting 47 home runs in his run for MVP. He has been a reliable producer, but from 2020 to 2022, he had difficulty. Bellinger finished the 2023 season with a 307 batting average, 26 home runs, and 4.4 WAR after adjusting his swing. The former MVP had an incredible comeback season, which he will try to build on in free agency. The Yankees cannot unsee this! 

The coming 2024 offseason will feature quite a few marquee names. Among names like Shohei Ohtani and Blake Snell stands Cody Bellinger. New York has a chance to not repeat the mistake they made missing out on Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. Having said that, with his familiarity with the organization and father’s legacy, Bellinger poses to be a better fit than anyone else that the Yankees are eyeing. But what does Cody think about this? 

What Does 2024 Look Like For Cody Bellinger?

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The Chicago Cubs announced on Friday night that Cody Bellinger had formally rejected his portion of his 2024 mutual option and was now a free agent. With Cody’s decision made, he keeps his options open. And the Yankees consider employing this window into their favor. Well, his father and his recently performance are proof of his credibility. 

Read More: Everything to Know About Free Agent Cody Bellinger’s Video Game Obsession: From His Assassin’s Creed Appearance to More

While there are only speculations on where Bellinger would land in 2024, his compatibility with the pinstripes cannot be undermined. Owing to his childhood spent with the franchise, Cody recalled, It was great. What kid doesn’t want to run around with their dad at a baseball stadium? At the time I didn’t think it was any big deal, but now I look back on it and realize how lucky I was.” 

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With that, signing him in 2024 might just be a statement of intent from the Yanks. And one can only wait and watch if his father’s legacy will influence Cody’s free agency. 

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Written by:

Kanishka Prakash

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Kanishka Prakash is an MLB writer for EssentiallySports. Being a sports enthusiast, she developed an interest in baseball during her college days. Eventually, her enthusiasm couldn’t be contained any longer, and EssentiallySports came to her rescue, offering an opportunity to write for her favorite sport.
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Edited by:

Rohan Karnad