Cody Bellinger was traded from the Chicago Cubs to the New York Yankees on Tuesday, joining the team where his father Clay spent most of his career and won two World Series titles in the ’90s. As it turned out, the trip to the Bronx was high on Bellinger’s priority list.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman told the media on Wednesday that Bellinger’s agent, Scott Boras, told Cashman that Bellinger’s desire to play for New York was so pervasive. Boras said he “drove me crazy” with his attempts to get to the Bronx.

Last season, there were numerous rumors leading up to the trade deadline that a move from Bellinger to New York could be in play. Such a trade did not materialize, and there were several obstacles in the way of a current deal, which were resolved by the Cubs sending $5 million in cash to the Yankees as part of the deal ($2.5 million dollars to cover part of his contract in 2024). and ’25).

As widely expected, Bellinger failed to secure a major free agent deal before the 2024 season. Instead, he signed a three-year contract that included exit options after each year of the contract, allowing him to re-enter free agency if he wanted. Bellinger’s play declined (although he was still an above-average hitter in terms of OPS), an unfortunate result for the Cubs, who were then stuck with the contract of a player who did not live up to expectations.

At the time, the deal was considered a smart one for the team, but his issues at the plate last year caused some tension. The Yankees are hoping that short right field at Yankee Stadium (and on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays, as Cashman pointed out) will help him get back into a rhythm similar to that in 2023. Bellinger is a former MVP and had in posted an above-average OPS in six of his eight big league seasons.