On Tuesday, the Chicago Cubs traded former National League MVP Cody Bellinger to the New York Yankees in what amounts to a mere drop in salary.

The Cubs are sending a total of over $5 million to the Yankees while also signing reliever Cody Poteet.

The Yankees have open spots in the outfield after losing Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo this offseason and will reportedly use Bellinger in center field. The deal makes sense for them and they have the financial flexibility to absorb Bellinger’s big deal.

This deal impacts the Seattle Mariners in several ways… First, the M’s will need to play Bellinger more often in 2025 since he plays in the American League. Secondly, he will have a greater impact on the M’s standings as he will also be playing against the teams the M’s are struggling with.

But most importantly, this move simply means that the Mariners won’t be acquiring Bellinger themselves. The Mariners reportedly inquired about Bellinger this offseason and have been linked to him for at least a year.

The Mariners have a full outfield and have Luke Raley as a left-handed hitting first baseman, so the fit was always going to be a bit awkward, but the reports were there nonetheless. The M’s were undoubtedly turned off by Bellinger’s contract, which could pay a total of more than $50 million over the next two seasons.

Bellinger, 29, is coming off a year in which he batted .266 and hit 18 home runs for the Cubs. Bellinger is a lifetime .259 hitter and an eight-year veteran of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cubs. He won MVP with the Dodgers in 2019 when he hit 47 home runs and drove in 115 runs.

He is a two-time All-Star.

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