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Cody Bellinger, the last offensive free agent of note this winter, has agreed to a deal with the Yankees. Per Jon Heyman, the deal is for $162.5 million over five years, with $85 million coming in the first two years and an opt out after the 2027 season. That’s significantly more than the 5/$135 Fangraphs had projected him for at the beginning of the winter, and the front loading and opt out further increase the value from his point of view. It’s been a good winter for hitters, with Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette opting for short deals that blew their expected AAVs out of the water, and Alex Bregman, Bellinger, Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso getting big deals with totals that exceeded expectations.
Bellinger had his best, and healthiest, season in years in New York last season. He played in 152 games, posting a .272/.334/.480 slash line that was 25% better than league average while going 13 for 15 stealing bases and playing very good corner outfield defence with some passable work in centre as well.
His return completes the reunion of last year’s Yankees outfield after fellow free agent centre fielder Trent Grisham accepted the qualifying offer earlier this winter. They and right fielder Aaron Judge will form probably the strongest offensive outfield in the game.
The move signals that the team doesn’t think former uber-prosepect Jasson Dominguez is quite ready for prime time. Dominguez got into 123 games in New York in his age 22 season last year and hit well enough for his age (103 wRC+), but stats and scouts graded his left field defence as atrocious in spite of his plus speed. It also pushes Spencer Jones out of the big league outfield picture as long as all of the starters are healthy. Jones grabbed attention by clubbing 35 home runs in just 116 games across AA and AAA last season, but also struck out 35% of the time with just a 60% contact rate, and evaluators doubt that his swing and approach would survive MLB pitching.
The free agent market is now looking pretty thin, with Eugenio Suarez the only batter left who looks likely to receive a significant multi-year deal. There’s a little more on the pitching side, with Framber Valdez and Zac Gallen yet to find landing spots. Although the Jays missed out on the major MLB bats, their plan of locking in their free agents early in the offseason looks good given how high prices have landed

The San Diego Padres’ main focus has been revamping the starting rotation this offseason. But the start of Spring Training is less than a month away, and their efforts should turn to upgrading the backup catcher position.

Campusano is not the answer

Currently, Luis Campusano is the lone option behind starter Freddy Fermin. The Padres have little confidence in him, as Campusano has always been a lazy defender behind the dish, and his minor league hitting prowess has never translated at the major league level. 

But the clock is ticking on Campusano’s time with the organization, as the Friars have no more minor league options remaining for him. So, he either begins the 2026 season on the big league roster, or Campusano must be designated for assignment.

It was not too long ago that he was the top prospect of the Padres’ minor league system. But his production in the majors (0-21 in 2025) has been disappointing. However, it is not impossible to see him reach his potential this season. Late bloomers are a common thread in baseball today.

Who is available on the backup catcher’s market

With the Friars turning their attention to upgrading the backup catcher position, no one should expect that player to supplant Fermin as the starter. He has been outstanding since the Friars acquired him from the Kansas City Royals at last summer’s trade deadline.

In 42 games with the Brown & Gold, Fermin batted .244 with two home runs and 14 RBI, while quickly becoming a calming presence for the pitching staff. He learned what each pitcher does best and allowed them to succeed in their moment on the mound. 

If the Padres add another experienced catcher to the mix, it is because they want to keep Fermin fresh for an entire season. Giving him a lighter workload allows Fermin to remain an effective contributor deep into the dog days of summer. The Friars cannot afford a fall-off in production. 

You would expect the organization to bring other backup candidates to Peoria on minor league deals. However, finding a suitable replacement has not been easy. Still, the Friars have been linked to several catchers, notably Christian Vasquez, Reese McGuire, and Gary Sanchez. 

Each adds a veteran presence to the clubhouse. Vasquez and McGuire are known as defensive specialists who call a good game. Sanchez may not have the glove, but he does offer a proven power-hitting commodity off the bench.

The front office will not consider top catching prospect Ethan Salas to start the season in the backup role. Injuries have caused him to miss significant time since signing with the Padres. Salas needs more seasoning in the minors before any thought of him receiving a major league promotion.

The Friars need to upgrade their depth at the catcher’s position. However, the market is currently thin, as no one is willing to commit to one another.

However, that could change heading into the final weeks before the start of Spring Training. Expect the Padres to make a move soon.

Last night, two players were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Center Fielders Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones got the call to Cooperstown. However, the night was not as successful for former Nationals. Daniel Murphy, Howie Kendrick and Gio Gonzalez were all on the ballot for the first time, but did not get any votes.

First off, congratulations to Beltran and Jones. Both had wonderful careers that were Hall of Fame worthy. Jones was the best defensive center fielder of his generation, while also being a prolific power threat. He hit 434 home runs and also won 10 Gold Gloves. 

Beltran was also an elite power/speed guy in center field. He was not as good in the field as Jones, but was a better hitter and had a longer peak. Beltran would have gotten inducted sooner, if not for his connection to the Astros cheating scandal. Despite that blemish, it was not enough to keep him out of the Hall of Fame.

On the other side of the spectrum were the three Nationals players. Daniel Murphy, Howie Kendrick and Gio Gonzalez were the only three players on the ballot not to get any votes. These guys were never going to make the cut, but not getting any votes is interesting.

Players like Rick Porcello, Hunter Pence, Alex Gordon and Shin-Soo Choo all got votes. I would say the trio of former Nats are on the same level as those players. It does not matter that much, but it is a shame they were the only ones to get totally shut out.

Given the fact they did not meet the 5% threshold, Murphy, Kendrick and Gonzalez will be off the ballot. However, next year will be the first year we see Ryan Zimmerman on the ballot. I would be shocked if Zimmerman were totally shut out and think he will meet the 5% threshold. Jordan Zimmermann will also be on the ballot in 2027.

Back to the Nats trio, all of them had very exciting peaks, but did not do enough to get in obviously. Kendrick had the highest WAR of the trio, with 35 wins above replacement. Most of that came with the Angels, but his most memorable moments came in DC. He hit arguably the two biggest home runs in franchise history during the Nats 2019 World Series run.

Kendrick had a really nice career, with a .294 average and an All-Star appearance. He was just never a star player, even if he was a key part to the Nats World Series run. It is a shame he got totally shut out though.

Daniel Murphy had the least amount of WAR, but probably hit the highest peak. He was second in NL MVP voting in his magical 2016 season. Murphy was a hitting machine that year, with a .347 average and 25 homers. He followed it up with another All-Star caliber 2017 season.

Those two years, as well as his 2015 playoff run were the extent of Murphy’s peak, but what a peak it was. He had a nice run on the Mets, but never hit the heights he did in DC. Injuries started to catch up to Murphy after 2017, and he was never the same. He was an elite player, but only for two seasons.

Gio Gonzalez had the longest tenure in DC of the trio and he was very good. He finished third in Cy Young voting in 2012, his first year as a Nat. That was his best season in DC, but he was a solid number 2 or number 3 starter for a long time.

His inconsistent command made him frustrating to watch at times, but he was still a very effective pitcher. Gio posted a 3.62 ERA in 6.5 seasons as a Nat. Obviously, that is not Hall of Fame worthy, but it is still very good.

None of these guys are Hall of Famers, but they were all high end players. Nationals fans will remember all three of these players very fondly. Just getting onto the ballot is very impressive in its own right.

MLB Rumors: Cody Bellinger and the New York Yankees have agreed to terms on a 5 year, $162.5 million deal, per multiple reports. The deal includes opt outs for Bellinger after 2027 and 2028, as well as a full no-trade clause.

Bellinger, 30, has been a curious free agent case in two of the past three seasons. The 2017 Rookie of the Year and 2019 Most Valuable Player was non-tendered by the Los Angeles Dodgers after the 2022 season, having put up a 542 OPS in 2021 and a 654 OPS in 2022. Bellinger signed a one year deal with the Cubs for 2023 that guaranteed him $17.5 million.

Bellinger had a terrific bounceback season, putting up an 881 OPS and 4.8 bWAR. A tepid free agent market for Bellinger after the 2023 season resulted in him not signing until after the 2024 spring training camps had opened up, ultimately entering into a three year, $80 million deal with the Cubs at the end of February that featured opt-outs after years one and two.

Bellinger disappointed in 2024 for Chicago, slashing .266/.325/.426, and the Cubs traded him to the New York Yankees after the season and subsidized some of his salary, ultimately paying $5 million for him to go away in return for pitcher Cody Poteet.

Bellinger excelled once again in 2025, slashing .272/.334/.480 in 152 games while putting up a 5.1 bWAR. Bellinger’s lefty swing benefitted from playing half his games in Yankee Stadium — he put up a 909 OPS at home, compared to a 715 OPS on the road.

Because of that split, a return to New York always seemed to make the most sense for Bellinger. Meanwhile, Bellinger’s good fit in their home park, as well as his defensive versatility, meant that bringing him back made sense for New York, as well. This move technically puts Jasson Dominguez out of the starting lineup, but given the injury histories of Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge, as well as Trent Grisham and Ben Rice not having a long history of hitting well in the majors, Bellinger’s ability to play quality defense at all three outfield spots as well as first base provides the Yankees with valuable defensive flexibility.

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers finalized their four-year, $240 million contract for Kyle Tucker on Wednesday, introducing the All-Star outfielder in a press conference at Dodger Stadium. But they needed to make space on the 40-man roster for the addition of Tucker, so Los Angeles designated outfielder Michael Siani for assignment.

Siani was claimed off waivers on December 12 from the Atlanta Braves, who had claimed the outfielder from the St. Louis Cardinals in November.

A defense-first center fielder, Siani has played parts of the last four seasons in the majors with the Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds. He hit .221/.277/.270 with a 58 wRC+ in 160 career games and 383 plate appearances. He played in 19 games in 2025, none of them starts, with four singles in 17 at-bats plus two walks.

Siani in Triple-A Memphis last season hit .209/.307/.329 with a 71 wRC+ and 24 extra-base hits in 101 games. Between the majors and minors, 641 of Siani’s 673 career defensive starts have come in center field.

This is similar to another recent waiver claim by the Dodgers. Utility man Ryan Fitzgerald was claimed off waivers on January 9, designated for assignment on January 13 with the signing of infielder Andy Ibáñez, then after he cleared waivers on Monday was sent outright to Triple-A Oklahoma City, still in the organization as depth but now off the 40-man roster.

We’ll find out in the next week or so what fate awaits Siani, either claimed or traded elsewhere or possibly sticking around if he clears waivers. With one year, 63 days of service time and as someone who has not previously been sent outright to the minors, Siani wouldn’t be able to refuse an outright assignment should it come to that.

The New York Yankees got their man, and yes, at their price, too.

The Yankees signed free-agent outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger to a five-year, $162.5 million contract Wednesday morning, two officials with direct knowledge told USA TODAY Sports. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal won’t become official until Bellinger passes his physical.

The deal includes opt-outs after the second and third years of the contract, a full no-trade clause and a $20 million signing bonus. If Bellinger opts out after the second year of the contract, he will have earned a nifty $85 million the first two years.

The average $42.5 million salary the first two years is $500,000 higher than Bo Bichette’s three-year, $126 million deal with the Mets, that includes an opt-out after each season.

It was actually during Bichette’s news conference in New York that the Yankees and agent Scott Boras agreed to Bellinger’s deal, setting off a frenzy in New York.

The Yankees, who refused to budge off their five-year proposal, insisted they would not get into a bidding war. They believed all along that no one would outbid them and provide Bellinger the seven-year deal he was seeking.

They proved to be right.