The New York Yankees made headlines by acquiring outfielder and first baseman Cody Bellinger from the Chicago Cubs, alongside cash considerations, in exchange for right-hander Cody Poteet. The deal comes as the Yankees seek offensive reinforcements following Juan Soto’s departure. While the trade cost New York little, its impact on the team’s lineup balance and defensive alignment raises some questions.
Keith Law of The Athletic argues that the Yankees got him cheap but he is not the answer to their offensive problems.
“Bellinger makes the Yankees somewhat better, but I don’t think he does enough to address their lineup questions, and he may end up pushing their top prospect — Jasson Domínguez — out of his best position,” he wrote. “If I were in the Yankees’ shoes, I would have preferred to acquire Seiya Suzuki, whose OBP skills would be a perfect fit for a Yankees lineup that is going to have serious problems putting guys on base.”
He spotlights the point that the most significant trade-off in acquiring Bellinger involves how it affects the team’s defensive alignment. Reports suggest the Yankees intend to play him in center field, pushing top prospect Jasson Domínguez to left field, where he struggled defensively during his 2024 MLB stint. While Bellinger remains an average defender in center, he is still a plus first baseman, where his presence might have made more sense.
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According to Keith, the Yankees could have pursued Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki, whose strong OBP skills (.380 career OBP) would have addressed the team’s on-base deficiencies. Suzuki also would have allowed Domínguez to remain in center field, maximizing his potential while filling a critical offensive gap. However, acquiring Suzuki likely would have required more valuable prospects, making the costlier trade less appealing.
“The Yankees are even getting $2.5 million from the Cubs in each of the next two years, so they’ll pay Bellinger $25 million this year, and $22.5 million in 2026 if he doesn’t opt out (If he opts out, the two clubs will split his $5 million buyout),” he wrote. “That’s a bit rich for his 2.2 WAR performance this past season, but a steal if he gets back to his 4.4 WAR performance from 2023. I can talk all day about how Suzuki was a better fit.”
Yankees’ low-cost gamble
The Yankees secured Bellinger by giving up Poteet, a 30-year-old pitcher with minimal major league success. The Cubs also agreed to cover $2.5 million annually over the next two seasons, leaving New York responsible for $25 million in 2025 and potentially $22.5 million in 2026 if Bellinger doesn’t opt out. Should he choose free agency, the teams will share his $5 million buyout.
For a player with Bellinger’s pedigree, this seems like a bargain — if he can return to his All-Star form. After delivering 2.2 WAR in 2024, a performance worth the Yankees’ investment, he could become a steal if he regains his 2023 level, when he posted a 4.4 WAR. However, his recent inconsistency tempers expectations.
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Bellinger’s question of fit to Yankees lineup
Bellinger’s offensive profile presents both promise and potential pitfalls. His .325 OBP in 2024 was just above the Yankees’ team average but still underwhelming in comparison to ideal leadoff standards. Historically, the Yankees have struggled with on-base production outside of Aaron Judge, whose OBP topped .324 last season. Bellinger’s career OBP of .334 offers moderate improvement but not a transformative upgrade.
His numbers against left-handed pitchers also pose concerns. In 2024, Bellinger managed only a .305 OBP against lefties, a figure that could exacerbate New York’s existing lefty-heavy lineup. With left-handed hitters like Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Austin Wells already regulars, along with switch-hitting Jasson Domínguez — whose left-handed splits are significantly stronger — adding another left-handed bat could limit the Yankees’ offensive versatility.
Additionally, the Yankees’ lineup may still face consistency issues in generating base runners, which could hinder their ability to capitalize on Bellinger’s power. If he can regain his previous form, his left-handed pull power could play well at Yankee Stadium, where the short right field has historically been a haven for left-handed sluggers.
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Additionally, the move could create positional logjams, complicating future roster decisions. Domínguez’s development and comfort level in left field will be closely monitored, as the Yankees hope to avoid stunting his long-term defensive growth.
“It appears that New York intends to play Bellinger in center, even though he’s just an average defender there, and slide Domínguez to left, where he’ll eventually be a plus defender, but struggled in his first stint there in 2024,” Law argued. “Trading for Suzuki rather than Bellinger would also have allowed the Yankees to keep Domínguez at his natural position of center.”
The bottom line
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For the Yankees, acquiring Cody Bellinger represents a calculated gamble with limited downside. His potential for offensive resurgence, paired with his defensive versatility, makes the trade a low-cost, moderate-reward move. Yet, concerns about lineup fit and defensive realignment remain unresolved. If Bellinger can regain his MVP-caliber form, the trade could become one of the offseason’s smartest deals. If not, New York may find itself searching for more impactful solutions as the season unfolds.
As the 2025 season approaches, the Yankees’ front office faces a delicate balancing act: integrating Bellinger while preserving future roster flexibility. Success will depend not only on Bellinger’s ability to bounce back but also on the team’s willingness to adapt and make additional roster upgrades as needed.
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