NEW YORK – There is still a lot to do. However, the addition of Cody Bellinger in Tuesday’s trade with the Chicago Cubs was a natural first step toward improving the Yankees’ batting order without Juan Soto.

The 29-year-old Bellinger fits in the outfield, but his ability to play solid first base gives the Yankees some flexibility as they explore the trade and free agent markets for more offense.

Ideally, the Yankees would add a strong corner infield bat with an above-average defensive reputation, but there are several interesting options to pursue.

Let’s look at the pros and cons of some of the available options:

Free agent opportunities

Alex Bregman

Position: Third base

Pros: Fills an immediate need as a Gold Glove third baseman with a winning pedigree, averaging 25 home runs and 89 RBI per season since 2022.

Cons: He turns 31 in March, and the Yankees would do best to avoid long-term, $200 million contracts with former star players.