Can you imagine the Dodgers without Mookie Betts or the Blue Jays without Bo Bichette? New York Yankees fans might soon feel that exact scenario. As their 2025 season is officially over after losing the ALCS at just Game 4 to the division rival Blue Jays, the Bombers might face an offseason equation in which they have to let their lineup savior, Cody Bellinger, walk away. Why so?

Because Cody Bellinger is going into free agency this winter, the Yankees will not try to work out an extension before then. So, heading to the new season, the question remains: Do they re-sign Bellinger, the player who proved he can thrive in New York? Or do they chase the market’s biggest fish, Kyle Tucker, whose market value is expected to be around  $400M? But the Yankees cannot afford to sign both.

Here, things go far beyond the stat sheet, as captain Aaron Judge has already made his preference public. The judge specifically pointed to Bellinger as a guy he wants back.

He said, “We got a lot of winning players in here… you mentioned a couple right there with Grisham and Bellinger… hopefully we can run them back and see what happens.” He openly urged the front office, led by Brian Cashman, to keep the 2025 core intact.

So if the front office still chooses to sign Tucker in the place of Bellinger, the decision could pit the front office against Judge.

The Yankees bought Bellinger’s $80 million deal last season from the Cubs and have a $25 million player option for 2026. After hitting .272 with 29 HRs and 98 RBIs, and posting a 125 wRC+ en route to a 4.9 fWAR season, there’s a possibility he turns down the $25 million player option and walks away with a $2.5 million buyout to check the free market.

And Tucker, a four-time lefty All-Star who still managed a 136 wRC+ with the Cubs in his struggling season, will be available in the market. Plus, the Yankees wanted him last offseason when the Cubs brought him in return for three prospects to the Astros.

And where do the fans in New York stand? They are standing right there with the Judge. A recent survey from Pinstripe Alley asked, Who should be the Yankees’ top free-agent priority? An overwhelming 61 percent of fans voted to re-sign Cody Bellinger, while only 25 percent wanted the team to break the bank for Kyle Tucker. The results were not even close.

And what about the other 14 percent of fans in that poll?

They wanted the team to “subvert this debate entirely and focus instead on the pitching staff.” This group sees a much bigger fire than the outfiled is burning in the rotation and bullpen. Ace Gerrit Cole, who missed all of 2025 recovering from Tommy John surgery, will not likely be ready for Opening Day.

Carlos Rodón, who won 18 games, is also out with elbow surgery and will miss the start of the season, and is expected to return in April or May. And Clarke Schmidt will also be unavailable due to his recovery from the second TJ.  So, the rotation will be understaffed at least for the first few months.

And the bullpen was a complete train wreck down the stretch, where a total rebuild is needed. The unit didn’t progress even after the trade deadline acquisition.

Players like Camilo Doval, Devin Williams, Paul Blackburn, Fernando Cruz, and Luke Weaver all have struggled.  Only closer David Bednar was a solid addition from Pittsburgh at the trade deadline.

And what happens if they strike out on both big bats in the outfield?  The front office must have a backup plan. They could re-sign Trent Grisham, who slugged 34 home runs.

Other free agents like Kyle Schwarber or Cedric Mullins, along with Cleveland’s Steven Kwan, will also be available in the market, but that would be a worst-case scenario. But if that happens, we may see a full-time role for Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones, who are waiting in the wings.

But in the end, this all circles back to one massive decision: Does Brian Cashman listen to his captain and the fans? Or does he chase the $400 jewel of the 2026 class, Kyle Tucker? What do you think? Let us know your thoughts below.