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

The lefty first baseman/center fielder appears to be one of the best fit for a Yankees lineup in need of a power boost from the left side, and there is reportedly clear interest from both teams in making a deal.

However, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, there appears to be problems with one detail of the trade.

“Bellinger seemed to fit best as a left-hitting first baseman/center fielder, and while the Yankees and Cubs were still at odds financially, there was reportedly some progress late Wednesday,” Heyman wrote. “The argument was about money. The Cubs asked the Yankees to take on nearly all of Bellinger’s $52.5 million over the next few years, and the Yankees expected even more money to come back.”

After missing out on Soto, the Yankees’ move to Bellinger makes sense. He would be a huge improvement in both center and left field and has shown a lot of potential as a first baseman.

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

According to Baseball Savant, the 29-year-old has struggled to approach league average in batting average (15th percentile), exit velocity (23rd percentile), batting speed (13th percentile) and walk rate (32nd percentile).

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

There still appears to be a lot of interest on both sides in a deal, but the Yankees would be wise not to overpay if Bellinger’s downward trend continues.

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