Yankees’ Aaron Boone Makes Stance Clear On Cody Bellinger Return

MLB’s Winter Meetings are up and running in Orlando. General managers, managers, and media members alike are donning their suit jackets and enjoying the buzzy event. Among the attendees is New York Yankees skipper Aaron Boone, who fielded some questions from reporters on Monday, which was Day 2 of the festivities.

One of the things Boone was asked about was the free agency of Cody Bellinger. Belli had a really nice year with the Yankees in 2025, and they’re reportedly making him a priority this offseason, but nothing’s guaranteed. The New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers are also interested in Bellinger, among others.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has reiterated all offseason long that he wants Bellinger back, and Boone didn’t do much to separate himself from that opinion on Monday.

“What Cody brought to us last year, in so many ways … who he was in the room, his performance in between the lines on both sides of the ball, his athleticism, his versatility, who wouldn’t want a player like that?” Boone said.

“But he’s earned the right to get to this point of his career (with) free agency, (and) he’s still a relatively young man, so we’ll see what happens and we’ll see how it shakes out, but as far as the player and the person, he’s a good one.”

Bellinger’s 2025 season with the Yankees delivered a robust return to form. Across 152 games, he posted a .272 average with 29 home runs, 98 RBI and 13 stolen bases, while splitting time between all three outfield positions and first base. His steady production helped propel the Yankees into the playoffs, and he finished 14th in AL MVP voting.

Now a nine-year MLB vet having played with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, and Yankees, Bellinger owns a .261 career average, 225 homers, and 695 RBI. The 2019 National League MVP and 2017 Rookie of the Year continues to blend power, speed, and defense at age 30, and that’s why he’s about to land a big payday this winter.