Whether it was Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman in last year’s offseason, or Freddie Freeman and Anthony Rizzo back in 2022, the Yankees always seem to face the same issue — struggling to make timely moves on top free agents. Sure, they made a bold move by trading for Juan Soto from the Padres. But that momentum didn’t last long, especially with the Mets outshining them soon after.

And now, we’re seeing the same story play out again. With reports of Cody Bellinger opting out to test free agency, the Yankees still haven’t decided whether to extend him a qualifying offer or explore other options. Meanwhile, as the clock keeps ticking, insiders are warning the Bombers that the Mets are already making a serious push for Bellinger. And that the Yankees might be falling behind once more.

“I think he has to come back to the Yankees… He was a great fit in the Bronx. He did everything. They asked him to good Defender, you would work with the Mets too. But I just think the Yankees need him so much at this point that they have to make others… We’ve already been down this road with the Yankees about guys that don’t have the mindset or can handle that type of pressure Bellinger did easily and produced… Cody Bellinger is An Elite baseball player. It has to be the Yankees, let’s not overthink this. I think the Yankees have only gotten themselves into trouble when they overthink decisions like these and don’t value the human element. Bellinger fits here.”

Let’s talk about Cody Bellinger for a second, as he was outstanding defensively this season. According to Baseball Savant, he ranked in the 93rd percentile for OAA and the 83rd percentile for arm strength. Notably, opposing runners had just a 31% success rate when trying to take the extra base on him.

Offensively, Bellinger was solid too, hitting .272 with an .813 OPS and 29 HRs. He played stellar defense across all three outfield positions and even filled in at first base, posting a 5.0 bWAR, his best since 2019. So, in every sense, Bellinger was a big win for the Yankees.

And all these are coming when the Mets are in the race for Bellinger…

Building on his strong season, Cody Bellinger is projected to land a five-year, $140 million contract in free agency, according to Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter. But NJ Advance Media’s Randy Miller suggests the Yankees might not be willing to go that far. “With Jasson Dominguez, Jones, and Judge as their projected outfield for 2026, the Yankees aren’t going to spend $30 million-plus a year for five or six years on Bellinger.”

Now, that could open the door wide for the Mets. If they can’t reach an agreement with Pete Alonso, Bellinger would be a perfect fit for them, both in the outfield and at first base. And when it comes to finances, well, everyone knows the Mets have the money to make it happen. So once again, it’s decision time for the Yankees: act quickly or risk being left behind.

Tucker is between the Yankees and Bellinger

Why are the Yankees still delaying extending a qualifying offer to one of their best performers? The answer is Kyle Tucker.

According to BallCapSports’ Jim Riley, Tucker could end up signing with the Yankees. And it makes sense because New York has the money, and they’re still built to contend for a World Series. Notably, this postseason, Tucker went 7-for-27 with a homer and five walks. While it wasn’t jaw-dropping, still a stronger showing than Bellinger’s.

But the big question, though, is price…

Spotrac projects Tucker could command a massive $400 million deal this offseason, far more than what Bellinger is expected to get. Sure, Bellinger has already proven himself in pinstripes, but Tucker’s upside in the Bronx is hard to ignore. His mix of power, speed, on-base ability, and postseason experience could give the Yankees a real shot next year.

That said, the Yankees have more holes to fill than just first base. Committing nearly half a billion dollars to Tucker would be a huge investment. But that might limit their flexibility to address other needs. Instead, spreading that money across a quality starter, a couple of relievers, an infielder, and a new deal for Bellinger might be the smarter, more balanced move.