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Staring contest over, Cody Bellinger re-signs with Yankees

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After a protracted staring contest, the New York Yankees and Cody Bellinger have finally reunited.

Bellinger and the Yankees agreed to terms on a five-year, $162.5 million deal, according to a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal is not yet finalized.

The agreement comes after an impasse on the length of contract: Bellinger was aiming for a seven-year commitment, but the Yankees hoped to stick to a five-year deal for the 30-year-old outfielder/first baseman. After potential landing spots were largely short-circuited by the signings of Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette last week, Bellinger met the Yankees’ ask for length of contract, while ensuring a $32.5 million annual salary – highest in Bellinger’s career.

Bellinger has experienced a career resurgence after injury-plagued 2021 and 2022 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Since then, Bellinger thrived with both the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees, smacking 73 homers and posting a cumulative 12.1 WAR over the last three campaigns.

Here’s everything to know about Bellinger’s new deal.

Cody Bellinger contract details

Bellinger agreed to a five-year, $162.5 million deal. The contract contains opt-out clauses after the second and third years, but they move back a year if the 2027 season is canceled due to a lockout. Bellinger receives a $20 million signing bonus and $32.5 million each of the first two seasons, guaranteeing him $85 million before his first opt-out.

Cody Bellinger 2025 stats

Bellinger experienced one of his best seasons in 2025, finishing 14th in AL MVP voting in his lone season with the New York Yankees. His 29 home runs mark the third-most he’s hit in a season, and his best mark since belting 47 in his MVP season in 2019.

Bellinger slashed .272/.334/.480 across 152 games with New York, accumulating 5.1 WAR in 2025, a stellar mark and his most since 2019. Bellinger also played a tremendous right field in pinstripes, racking up eight Defensive Runs Saved at the position in just 416 innings.

Bellinger has played in at least 130 games in each of the last four seasons, showing a durability after his stint with the Dodgers ended after both shoulder surgery and a lower-leg injury dampened his final two seasons.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY