All-Star outfielder Cody Bellinger remains without a team this offseason despite All-Star free agents Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette inking lucrative deals over the last two weeks.
Bellinger, who had a strong 2025 season with the New York Yankees, has been strongly linked with a return to the Bronx offseason. However, the two parties are seemingly at a standoff over the length of the contract.
Meanwhile, the New York Mets and the Toronto Blue Jays have upped their interest in the All-Star outfielder. According to MLB insider Mike Puma, the Blue Jays and Mets missing out on Tucker, could prove to be an “X-factor” in their pursuit of Bellinger.
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“I guess the X factor might be the Blue Jays at this point cause they missed on Tucker, and same with the Mets,” Puma wrote. “The Mets would certainly do a short-term, high AAV deal, even though it isn’t Bellinger or Boras’ first choice.”
Tucker, who was strongly linked with the Mets and the Blue Jays, signed a blockbuster four-year, $240 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers last week.
Mets expected to turn attention to pitching help amid Cody Bellinger rumors
While the Mets remain linked with Cody Bellinger in free agency, the NL East franchise traded for All-Star center fielder Luis Robert Jr. from the Chicago White Sox this week.
MLB analyst Sal Licata said that Robert’s arrival potentially ends the Mets’ pursuit of Bellinger in free agency. Licata beleives that the Mets could bolster their rotation instead of splurging on Bellinger.
“I love it for multiple reasons,” Licata said. “No. 1: The Mets finally have a legitimate, at least defensive, centerfielder, a proven big leaguer. He strikes out a ton. Offensive numbers are not what you want. A few years ago, he had 38 homers. That’s not the norm. Forget about that.
“But at least they have a major leaguer with potential in center field, takes them, I would think, out of the mix for Bellinger. They’re not going to spend that money there, which makes me think they’re going to spend the money in the starting rotation, which I think they need more. I love this move.”
Robert hit .223 with 14 home runs with a career-high 33 stolen bases. The former White Sox outfielder arrives in New York after Mets signed Bo Bichette on a three-year, $126 million contract last week.
Edited by Chaitanya Prakash
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