Yankees Can Use This Creative Loophole to Entice World Champion Outfielder to Sign
The New York Yankees have been accused of not being creative. They are not wrong. It is said that they are never aggressive, and this is certainly true. However, like death and taxes, there is one thing you can count on with the Brian Cashman Yankees of the late 2000s. When they really want a player, they will go to great lengths to acquire him.
Never has the Yankees’ current approach been more apparent than in their pursuit of free agent outfielder Cody Bellinger. Throughout an offseason otherwise marked by minor league signings and an avoidance of bold spending, the Yankees have poured much of their time and energy into negotiations with Scott Boras to bring Bellinger back. The effort is reminiscent of last year’s ultimately fruitless campaign to retain Juan Soto, but Bellinger is no Soto, and everyone knows it. However, the Yankees need to make this work out badly.
Yet, with their payroll already stretched to the brink and few other major moves even rumored, the Yankees have banked their entire offseason narrative on landing Bellinger. He’s been advertised as the necessary piece, the difference-maker who will define their success in 2026. In reality, this pursuit is less about building a powerhouse and more about convincing fans, and perhaps themselves, that running it back with a familiar face is enough to keep the window of contention open. Why has it taken this long for two sides that want to make a deal to sign on the dotted line?
The drawn-out nature of these negotiations can be traced directly to Scott Boras. Both the Yankees and Cody Bellinger have made it clear they want a reunion; the fit is natural. However, Boras’s signature tactic of squeezing every dollar and extra year out of interested teams has turned the process into a waiting game. The Yankees are reportedly the only team with concrete offers on the table and are determined not to bid against themselves. Their proposal is a five-year deal worth over $30 million annually, totaling $150 million. Bellinger, however, is seeking a longer commitment of at least seven years. The Yankees, for their part, are standing firm at five years, unwilling to move any further.
The Yankees find themselves in a position where they must finally hold the line with Scott Boras. They’ve already shown flexibility, raising the average annual value of their offer to competitive levels within a five-year framework. They refuse to exceed Aaron Judge and his team-leading yearly salary, a sensible ceiling for the franchise. This time, public opinion is firmly aligned with the Yankees; most agree their offer is fair and are tired of Boras and his tactics holding teams hostage every year. For once, the Yankees have the leverage and are right to stand firm, even as they make it clear they still want Cody Bellinger back, just not at any cost.
The Yankees’ latest reported offer of $35 million AAV for five years at $175 million, with opt-outs and a bonus, matches the Cubs’ rate for Alex Bregman at six years and $210 million, minus the extra year. There are even reports that they will include opt-outs, a bonus, and no deferrals. This is the light at the end of the tunnel. This creative structure protects both sides. If Cody and Boras decline, it’s time for the Yankees to stand firm and pivot. The Yankees are doing all the heavy lifting here, and this latest concession could be the breakthrough needed to bring Cody Bellinger back to the Bronx. In an offseason defined by caution and negotiation, this inventive approach may be just what it takes to open the door to a long-awaited reunion and give Yankees fans something to celebrate at last. If this offer is true and rejected, then this is the moment they finally say no to Boras and his demands, setting a new precedent for future negotiations.
