Why Back Issues Could Derail Former MVP and His Big Contract Expectations

This is a cautionary tale for those who warn about placing all your eggs in one basket. When it comes to free agent signings, it’s best to invest in the tried and tested. The big money should go to the elite talents of baseball, such as Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani. Never should it go to a player who holds up an entire offseason to acquire him and only skims the surface of greatness. It’s ironic to hear that once again, this former one-season MVP has early injury concerns, no matter the level of severity. The symbolism is almost laughable: should this injury hamper his season, he would be turning his back, metaphorically, on the team that finally gave him the superstar deal he had been seeking for some time. It is the same back that contributed to his slow start in 2025, and it’s the same back that, if it becomes a chronic issue, will not allow him to live up to the expectations his contract warrants. The Yankees paid MVP rates and are expecting nothing less than that level of performance. They banked their entire narrative on this son of a former Yankee world champion to be the upgrade that allowed them to ignore all the other major free agent outfielders on the market.

Cody Bellinger had one of his best seasons in New York in 2025. However, no one could have envisioned that he would become the hardest signing in recent memory. His final numbers saw the Yankees win the year’s battle, settling at five years. The cost was high, as they awarded Bellinger $162.5 million, a $20 million signing bonus, a no-trade clause, and two opt-outs in years two and three. His AAV of $32.5 million is higher than that of Yankee multi-MVP and team captain Aaron Judge. Although many fans felt a sense of relief at retaining Cody, many were turned off by the fact that the Yankees were played once again by superstar agent Scott Boras. By the numbers, Cody brings a lot to the Yankees on both sides of the field. He can play all three outfield positions and first base at an elite level. His bat, despite all the criticisms, was among the team leaders in batting average, home runs, OBP, WAR, and RBIs. This is why hearing that his back was tightening up for the second straight spring is such a concern. The Yankees need Bellinger to be what he was last season, but better.

All the aspirations that the New York Yankees have for the 2026 season center around bringing back the core of the team, with Cody Bellinger as the crown jewel. This plan can work if health is not an issue. Brian Cashman and the organizational brain trust are banking on Bellinger being the MVP he was in 2019, to pair with Judge and hopefully replicate the production that the Juan Soto and Aaron Judge combination gave them in 2024. The impact of a lingering injury threatens to reduce Cody’s effectiveness, as the Yankees may end up playing him in fewer games or reducing his time in the outfield in exchange for keeping him fresh for an entire season and playoff run. By doing this, Bellinger will find it difficult to exceed the numbers he provided a year ago. This is not an issue this year, but for the entire five-year period they invested in him. Cody has already had problems with consistency despite his various talents, and a lack of health will only make production a crapshoot to fulfill.

If Cody Bellinger misses significant time this season, the Yankees will be left relying on unproven options like Spencer Jones or Jasson Dominguez in the outfield, something the organization has already shown little confidence in. With so few true impact bats on the roster, especially in the postseason, the pressure on Bellinger to justify his hefty contract will be immense. He not only needs to deliver superstar production, but also must win over a fan base that holds him partially responsible for the team’s lack of aggression in the free agent market. Ultimately, Bellinger’s ability or inability to stay healthy will be the deciding factor. It will determine whether he helps elevate the Yankees back into championship contention, or whether another costly injury turns this investment into a missed opportunity, and wastes another year of Aaron Judge’s prime. Bellinger’s health, more than anything else, will be the needle mover for the Yankees’ 2026 season for good or for bad.