Yankees acquire OF/1B Cody Bellinger from Cubs

Field Level Media|published: Tue 17th December, 20:32 2024

Sep 24, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger (24) hits a single against the Philadelphia Phillies in the eighth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

The Chicago Cubs traded former National League MVP Cody Bellinger to the New York Yankees on Monday for right-handed pitcher Cody Poteet.

The Yankees will take on the bulk of Bellinger's $27.5 million salary, but Chicago kicked in $5 million to New York in the deal, according to reports.

Bellinger has two years remaining on his current contract, counting a player option for the 2026 season.

Bellinger, 29, brings a lefty bat to the Yankees' lineup in the wake of Juan Soto's free agency departure to the New York Mets. He also could fill a need in either the outfield or first base.

Clay Bellinger, Cody's father, played parts of three seasons (1999-2001) for New York. According to the Yankees, they will become the fourth father-son duo to don the pinstripes.

The trade is the Yankees' latest splash this offseason, following the signing of left-handed starting pitcher Max Fried to a $218 million contract and the acquisition of All-Star closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers.

Bellinger spent two seasons with the Cubs after playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2017-22. In that time, he won the 2017 NL Rookie of the Year award, the 2018 NLCS MVP and the 2019 league MVP -- a season in which he batted .305 with career highs of 47 home runs, 34 doubles, 95 walks and 115 RBIs.

Injuries set him back in the ensuing years, and Los Angeles moved on from him after 2022. Bellinger restarted his career at Wrigley Field, batting a career-high .307 with 26 homers and 97 RBIs for the Cubs in 2023 and earning MVP votes and a Silver Slugger award.

In 2024, he batted .266 with 18 homers and 78 RBIs in 130 games. Across 1,005 career games, Bellinger is a .259 hitter with a .334 on-base percentage, a .484 slugging percentage, 196 home runs, 186 doubles and 597 RBIs.

Poteet, 30, joined the Yankees ahead of the 2024 season and made five appearances, including four starts, in his only season there. It was his most successful stint in the major leagues by far, as he went 3-0 with a 2.22 ERA. He previously made 19 appearances (nine starts) for the Miami Marlins (2021-22).

--Field Level Media

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