The New York Yankees made a lot of great moves in the offseason, but the trade for outfielder Cody Bellinger might age the best. Bellinger has been a key contributor for the Yankees this season, and fans of the team likely want to see him in pinstripes for a long time.

Bellinger has a $25 million player option for next season in his contract. If the slugger continues to dominate in the second half, there’s a good chance he opts out of this option.

Thomas Carannante of Yanks Go Yard recently projected the Yankees would sign Bellinger to a contract extension for five years and $140 million if he opts out of his current deal at the end of the season.

“Bellinger is already earning $27.5 million on his current contract (his player option for 2026 is worth $25 million). He’ll be entering his age-30 season next year, and we’re not exactly sure if he warrants a raise much higher than his current AAV,” Carannante wrote. “He’s probably right where he should be, given he’s no longer a perennial MVP-type talent with probably a handful of true prime years remaining.

“But would anybody take issue with a five-year, $140 million extension? That’s a $28 million AAV that keeps him in tow before the group of Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Max Fried starts to get broken up. And that salary would change almost nothing with their payroll, given this is the status quo at the moment.”

Locking Bellinger up to a five-year deal would be a bit risky considering how poorly some of the contracts are aging on the Yankees’ payroll, but it’s a move the team almost certainly needs to make.

Bellinger has been excellent with the team and could project as a solid outfielder or first baseman for the next few seasons. With Aaron Judge still dominating like he is, the Yankees can’t let off the gas for a second. Re-signing Bellinger would prove their commitment to winning.