“Bellinger, Yankees targeted” US media builds ‘dream pairing’ with Jersey, could reach $3 billion
The New York Yankees, in last place in baseball for the first time in 33 years, have called it quits for the season and announced a major team overhaul later this year.
Before a home game against the Washington Nationals on April 24, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said, “This year has been a disaster. I admit it. I’m shocked to say the least.” “We are disappointed, angry, and frustrated. We see it in every aspect of our organization, from top to bottom. We all feel responsible. Everyone will be evaluated, including myself,” he said, hinting at a major organizational shakeup. That includes not only himself, but also manager Aaron Boone.
The Yankees are in a “win-now” mode every season, and they spend every winter rebuilding. They’ve said they’re going to change the team dramatically, but they’re not going to do it in any particular way. A managerial change, a major “purge” of veterans, and the addition of new faces is pretty much it.
The Yankees are expected to go all-in on bolstering their offense this winter. That’s because the offense is one of the worst in franchise history this year.
Through five days, the Yankees rank 29th in team batting average (.228), 22nd in runs scored (4.23), 22nd in team OPS (.707), and 20th in team stolen bases (86) out of 30 teams in both leagues. The only bright spot is their 6th place ranking in team home runs (197), which is shocking considering they led the league with 254 last year.
The Yankees’ offensive struggles this year are largely due to the injury to Aaron Judge, who spent nearly two months on the disabled list after injuring his right big toe when he crashed into the fence netting after catching a big fly by J.D. Martinez in the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on June 4. Judge returned on July 29, but it’s hard to see the same explosive bat he once had. When a team’s center fielder is missing or struggling, it’s natural for the entire lineup to lose steam.
That’s why rumors abound that the Yankees will be in the market for a big bat in free agency later this year. One player who could be a perfect fit for the Yankees is Cody Bellinger of the Chicago Cubs.
Bellinger has been having an MVP-caliber season, despite missing a month due to injury. As of today, he’s batting .320 (131-for-410) with 23 home runs, 84 RBI, 81 runs scored, a .363 slugging percentage, a .549 on-base percentage, a .912 OPS, and 19 stolen bases. He ranks fourth in the NL in batting average, fifth in OPS, tied for 20th in home runs, tied for 13th in RBI, and 14th in runs scored.
He injured his knee playing defense and was sidelined from mid-May to mid-June, but his home runs and RBIs are still quite respectable. He’s also one of the best outfielders in the game, with a Gold Glove in center field. If Bellinger joins the Yankees’ lineup, there could be some adjustments in the middle infield with Judge. Of course, Jersey and Giancarlo Stanton could form a formidable cannon in center field.
On April 4, USA Today’s Bob Nightingale reported, “The Cubs, San Francisco, San Diego Padres and New York Yankees are among the teams that will be aggressively pursuing Bellinger,” adding, “His price will be very high. He could command more than $200 million and possibly $300 million.
Another outlet, Sports Illustrated, said, “The Yankees have been consistently mentioned as a possible blockbuster deal in the upcoming free agency period,” adding, “Bellinger would be a huge boost to a batting lineup that has struggled this year.
Bellinger’s agent is Scott Boras. His strategy will likely be to use the Yankees as leverage to drive up the price.바카라사이트
Bellinger hit free agency last winter after being released by the Dodgers. He signed a one-year, $12.5 million deal with the Cubs with a $5 million buyout and a mutual option for 2024. There’s no reason to exercise the option when he’s coming off a strong 2019 campaign in which he won the NL MVP.
