Insider: Yankees Will Lose Cody Bellinger
For the second year in a row, the New York Yankees are facing a one-and-done situation in the outfield.
Following the 2024 season, All-Star slugger Juan Soto moved from the Bronx to Queens.
This year, it's Cody Bellinger who could be packing his bags.
The Yankees have made no attempt to hide the fact they want Bellinger back. The 30-year-old opted out of his contract this week to become a free agent.
Bye Bye, Bronx?
NJ.com's Bob Klapisch thinks Bellinger won't be returning in 2026.
"I believe Bellinger will sign with another club and so do a lot of people around the around the big leagues. Remember, he’s represented by Scott Boras. We know what that means," Klapisch says.
"I’m hearing Bellinger could get $180 million for six years, maybe more than $200 million for seven," NJ.com's Randy Miller notes. "If the Yankees make that kind of commitment, there is no spot for (Spencer) Jones or (Jasson) Dominguez. But I don’t think Bellinger is back unless it’s a team-friendly contract in years, and that’s not happening. Boras will make sure of that."
"People hire Boras for one reason only, and that’s to make the last-possible dollar regardless of what uniform you end up wearing. So just keep that in mind," Klapisch adds.
"The Yankees learned their lesson from their pursuit of Juan Soto last year. They thought they made a great offer, only to be outbid at the last minute by Steve Cohen and the Mets. My sense is that Yankees are wary of Boras using the same playbook with Bellinger: use Hal Steinbrenner to jack up the price and move him elsewhere. I don’t think the Yankees want to be party to that for a second year in a row," Klapisch concludes.
ESPN's David Schoenfield reports the Mets are Bellinger's best fit.
The Athletic's Jim Bowden lists the Yankees, Mets, Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, Cleveland Guardians, Los Angeles Angels and Seattle Mariners as best fits for Bellinger.
Plan B
So what's Plan B in the Bronx?
"I’ve been told by people familiar with Cashman’s thinking that the Yankees are ready to commit to Jones if Bellinger doesn’t come back," Klapisch reports. "Jones strikes out a lot, but that’s not a deal breaker. The Yankees have seen progression in other areas.
"Obviously he has the power. He has the size. He has the defensive skill. He has the charisma and personality for New York. He checks so many boxes that I strongly suspect he’ll be plan B if Bellinger walks," Klapisch says.
The Yankees acquired Bellinger in a December 2024 trade with the Chicago Cubs.
He proceeded to hit 29 home runs and drive in 98 runs while posting a 5.0 WAR in New York, his highest totals since winning the 2019 National League MVP Award with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Bellinger, 30, opted out of his three-year, $80 million contract by turning down his $25 million option for 2026.
Eagles fans owe Adoree’ Jackson an apology after shocking stat drop
The NFL trade deadline has come and gone, and Philadelphia Eagles fans can finally exhale over the state of their struggling pass defense.
General manager Howie Roseman won the deadline (again) by acquiring a freakish edge in Jaelan Phillips, and a pair of veteran cornerbacks in Michael Carter II and Jaire Alexander.
With the cornerback group in particular, Roseman played his typical game of darts, throwing multiple options at the board with minimal impact to the salary cap or future draft capital. Whether it’s Alexander, Cooper DeJean, Jakorian Bennett, or someone else manning the No. 2 outside cornerback spot opposite Quinyon Mitchell going forward, the Eagles are better at that spot now than they were entering their Week 9 bye.
Eagles fans are just happy that the Adoree’ Jackson era appears to be coming to an end. The veteran was an odd signing from the start, entering his age-30 season, and it’s been a rollercoaster ride, to put it kindly, over his three starts and six total game appearances in 2025; he enters Week 10 ranked 105th of 112 cornerbacks in Pro Football Focus’ coverage grade.
PFF’s grades are subjective, though. NFL Next Gen Stats tend to paint a more accurate picture using concrete data — and Jackson’s name popped up in a graphic this week that left Eagles fans absolutely stunned (and amused).
Much maligned Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Adoree’ Jackson has been stickier in coverage than fans realize in 2025
The news that broke NFL trade deadline day was the New York Jets trading superstar cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for two first-round draft picks.
Gardner had taken a slight step back in coverage this year, allowing a passer rating over 100 when targeted for the first time in his career, per PFF's metrics. Still, the 25-year-old remains one the best all-around corners in the league, as evidenced by Next Gen Stats' tight-window percentage.
According to NGS, Gardner tops the NFL in forcing tight windows, or giving opposing quarterbacks low expected outcomes when targeting him.
This was definitely meant to be a Gardner graphic, but it's quickly taken on a life of its own with Eagles fans.
Sauce Gardner has faced opponent #1 receivers on 45.5% of his coverage matchups, the NFL's highest rate (min. 125 matchups).
When targeted, he has forced tight windows (<1 yard of separation) at a 52.0% rate, also leading the league (min. 20 targets).@Colts | #ForTheShoe pic.twitter.com/88AAPXz8aI — Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) November 4, 2025
Anyone watching Eagles games this year would not put Jackson’s name on any list with Sauce Gardner, Pat Surtain and Quinyon Mitchell. It goes to show, though, that Jackson has given the Eagles a much better performance than he’s gotten credit for this year.
Jackson is what he is at this stage of his career. He fits fine as veteran depth on a roster full of young talent; it just gets a little uncomfortable when he’s being asked to start games, and match up with guys like CeeDee Lamb and Puka Nacua.
Really, the criticism should be sent Roseman’s way. The Eagles took a gamble on Kelee Ringo ascending into a starting role in Year 3, and the result has now been three separate cornerback trades to add depth and mitigate damage.
Jackson was never supposed to play a major role in this defense. He’ll likely fade into the back of the depth chart over the second half of the season.
He definitely deserves his flowers, though, for helping to hold down the fort over Philly’s 6-2 start.
