The Chicago Cubs continue to make waves this off-season.
After dealing for star outfielder Kyle Tucker last Friday, the Cubs are trading 2019 NL MVP Cody Bellinger to the New York Yankees, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Right-handed reliever Cody Poteet is headed to Chicago in return, while the Cubs are also sending $5 million to the Yankees to be split evenly over the next two seasons.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that the Yankees plan to play Bellinger in centre field.
Bellinger, 29, has spent the past two seasons with the Cubs after joining the Northsiders as a free agent before the 2023 season.
In 2023, the six-foot-four outfielder/first baseman returned to the form that saw him earn two trips to the All-Star Game, his MVP and the 2017 NL Rookie of the Year with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he failed to get back to those heights in 2024.
Over 130 games last season, Bellinger slashed .266/.325/.426 with 18 home runs, 78 RBIs and 23 doubles. He spent time in all three outfield spots and at first base.
Bellinger signed a three-year, $80 million deal to re-up with the Cubs last off-season. The contract included opts-outs after both of the first two seasons. However, after his disappointing campaign, the 2020 World Series champ opted into the deal for 2025.
With the Cubs acquiring Tucker, the writing was on the wall for Bellinger’s tenure in Chicago, as the outfield only grew more crowded with the acquisition of the former Astros All-Star.
The Cubs have established big-leaguers Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki on the roster, along with young up-and-comers Pete Crow-Armstrong and Canadian Owen Caissie, all in the outfield.
