Re-signing him might be difficult because he’s projected to sign a huge $168 million deal in free agency, per Jim Bowden of The Athletic.

Still, Matt Johnson of Sportanaut predicted on Saturday that the Yankees would be the team to win the Bellinger sweepstakes this offseason.

“Similar to Alex Bregman re-signing with the Red Sox, Cody Bellinger and the New York Yankees finding middle ground feels inevitable,” Johnson wrote. “Yes, the Mets are involved, and Steve Cohen would love to poach Bellinger from the Yankees clubhouse.

“However, Cohen also seems hesitant to sign any of the top MLB free agents to contracts longer than three seasons, and if that’s as far as the Mets will go, the Yankees will beat that. Besides, Bellinger has thrived in Yankee Stadium, and New York needs to do something after being quiet to start the winter.”

The Yankees need to make some moves to keep pace in the American League East.

The Toronto Blue Jays won the division and the AL pennant this season. Since then, they’ve added Dylan Cease, Tyler Rogers, and others. The Yankees need to keep up in free agency, or the gap between the two teams could widen.

Signing Bellinger would be the kind of move that keeps the Yankees near the top of the league.

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