Cody Bellinger predicted to bolt Yankees for loaded NL West team

The New York Yankees failed to repeat as American League champions last season and now have some key players on the open market.

Cody Bellinger was acquired from the Chicago Cubs after the Yankees lost Juan Soto to the New York Mets. The former MVP had a great season for the Yankees and decided to opt out of his contract in hopes of finding a better deal in free agency. He slashed .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs.

Bellinger’s 29 home runs were the most he has hit since his 2019 MVP season. Perhaps playing in Yankee Stadium had a major role, but he ended up being a huge part of the team’s offense. General manager Brian Cashman has expressed interest in bringing Bellinger back, but competition to do so may be stiff. Many teams could target Bellinger, and USA Today’s Jesse Yomtov predicted he would sign with the San Francisco Giants.

Despite not making the postseason last year, Buster Posey’s aggressive approach has made it clear that the Giants are trying to win in a hurry. In the last year and a half, the team signed Matt Chapman to a $151 million extension, signed Willy Adames to a $182 million deal and traded for Rafael Devers.

The Giants have a talented roster and made a change at manager after it underachieved last season. The team has plenty of stars, and adding Bellinger could be a great move. The National League West is a tough division to compete in, and Bellinger could give the Giants even more firepower.

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