Jan. 21 (UPI) — The New York Yankees agreed to a five-year, $162.5 million contract with outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger, taking arguably the top available free agent off the market.
Sources told MLB.com, ESPN and The Athletic on Wednesday that the agreement includes a no–trade clause and opt-outs after the second and third season. Bellinger will receive a $20 million signing bonus as part of the agreement, which does not include deferrals.
Bellinger, 30, hit .272 with 29 home runs and 98 RBIs over 152 appearances last season for the Yankees. The two-time All-Star, who joined New York in a 2024 trade from the Chicago Cubs, has a career .261 batting average. He totaled 225 home runs over his first nine seasons.
Bellinger hit a career-best .307 with 26 home runs and 97 RBIs over 130 appearances for the Cubs in 2023. He notched a career-high 47 home runs, with 115 RBIs, over 156 appearances for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019 en route to National League MVP honors.
Yankees pitchers and catchers will report to spring training Feb. 12 in Tampa, Fla. Full squad workouts will start Feb. 16 at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
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