The New York Yankees have agreed to a five year, $162.5 million contract with outfielder Cody Bellinger, securing a key piece of their lineup for the foreseeable future. The deal includes a $20 million signing bonus, opt outs after the second and third seasons, and a full no trade clause, with no deferred money. The signing keeps Bellinger with the Yankees after a strong 2025 season and represents the largest contract of his major league career.

Bellinger is expected to return as the Yankees’ primary left fielder after starting more games there than at any other position last season. Batting behind Aaron Judge for most of the season, he hit .272 with 29 home runs, 98 RBIs and an .813 OPS across 152 games. He was especially effective against left handed pitching, leading all left handed hitters in both on base percentage (.415) and slugging percentage (.601) in those matchups. Bellinger also thrived at Yankee Stadium, posting a .909 OPS at home compared to a .715 mark on the road.

His strong performance prompted Bellinger to opt out of the final season of the three year, $80 million deal he signed with the Chicago Cubs prior to the 2024 season, a contract that would have paid him $25 million in 2026.

Since undergoing arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn right shoulder labrum in 2020, Bellinger has been durable, appearing in at least 130 games in each of the past four seasons. His resurgence has been marked by three consecutive seasons with an OPS+ of 111 or better.

Bellinger’s career has been defined by dramatic highs and lows since breaking into the majors with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He won National League Rookie of the Year honors in 2017 and captured the NL MVP award in 2019 before injuries derailed his trajectory. Now firmly reestablished as a middle of the order force, he becomes the fifth player the Yankees have re signed this offseason, joining Trent Grisham, Ryan Yarbrough, Amed Rosario and Paul Blackburn as New York continues to solidify its roster.