The New York Yankees are eyeing ways to pivot after missing out on Juan Soto, and Chicago Cubs star Cody Bellinger is on the list.

The lefty first baseman/centerfielder seems to be one of the top fits for a Yankees lineup that needs an infusion of power from left side, and there reportedly is clear interest from both teams to get a deal done.

However, there seems to be a hang up when it comes to a detail of the trade, according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post.

“Bellinger looked like the best fit of all as a lefty-hitting first baseman/center fielder, and while the Yankees and Cubs were still apart on money, there was said to be a bit of progress late Wednesday,” Heyman wrote. “The hang-up was about money, with the Cubs asking the Yankees to take on nearly the full $52.5M Bellinger’s due over the next couple years, and the Yankees expecting more cash coming back.”

After missing out on Soto, the Yankees’ pivot to Bellinger makes sense. He would provide a massive upgrade in either center or left field, and he’s shown a lot of promise as first base defender.

Part of the issue outside of the money is the decline that Bellinger saw at the plate in 2024. While Bellinger ranked in the 89th percentile in squared-up rate (30.6%) and the 85th percentile in strikeout rate (15.6%), the rest of his metrics were below his career standard.

The 29-year-old struggled to approach league-average marks in hard-hit rate (15th percentile), exit velocity (23rd percentile), bat speed (13th percentile) and barrel rate (32nd percentile), according to Baseball Savant.

Those typically aren’t the marks the Yankees look for, and they’ll need a lot more production from the first base position than they received in 2024.

There still appears to be heavy interest from both sides in getting a deal done, but the Yankees would be wise to not overpay if Bellinger’s declining trend continues.

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