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The Chicago Cubs have reportedly traded Cody Bellinger to the New York Yankees, ESPN's Jeff Passan reported on Tuesday (December 17).
The Yankees will reportedly acquire Bellinger and cash in exchange for right-handed reliever Cody Poteet, sources confirmed to Passan.
The reported acquisition of Bellinger, 29, the 2019 National League MVP and a 2020 World Series champion, comes days after outfielder Juan Soto, who was acquired by the Yankees last offseason, signed the largest contract in professional sports history with the New York Mets.
"BREAKING: OF/1B Cody Bellinger has been traded from the Chicago Cubs to the New York Yankees, sources tell ESPN. Bellinger, 29, is a former MVP and has two years remaining on his contract with an opt-out after 2025. Yankees continue to be aggressive post-Juan Soto," Passan wrote. "Of the $5 million the Cubs are sending to the Yankees in the Cody Bellinger trade, $2.5 million will cover his 2025 salary, per source. The remaining $2.5 million will either cover the buyout if he doesn't exercise his player option for 2026 or Bellinger's 2026 salary if he does."
Bellinger hit for a .266 average with 18 home runs and 78 RBIs during the 2024 MLB season, his second with the Cubs. The Arizona native spent his first six seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, which included two All-Star appearances as a rookie in 2017, as well as during his 2019 NL MVP season, while also winning a World Series during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.