The New York Yankees want Cody Bellinger back, but there is reportedly a holdup in negotiations. Could a surprise team swoop in and sign the former National League MVP?
According to NJ.com’s Brian Kalpsich, the Yankees are willing to move closer to Bellinger’s desired average annual value, but his desire for a seven-year deal could “doom” negotiations. The longer his free agency takes, the more likely he will be to sign a shorter deal or give up some average annual value to secure a seven-year commitment. Both of those things could open the door for a dark-horse team to sign him.
There are not many teams in baseball that would not want Bellinger on their roster. The Kansas City Royals have some talented players, headlined by Bobby Witt Jr. However, they could use some more help in the outfield. Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter named them a dark-horse landing spot for Bellinger.
“They don’t often make splashy free-agency moves, but Bellinger could be a transformative addition to their lineup, joining Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel GarcÃa, Salvador Perez and Vinnie Pasquantino,” wrote Reuter. “With Isaac Collins, Kyle Isbel and Jac Caglianone as the current projected outfield, there might be no team that would benefit more from upgrading in the grass.”
Bellinger would be a great addition to the Royals as they look to make it back to the postseason. Bellinger hit 29 home runs last season and would be an everyday player for the Royals. However, it will take a major commitment from them. His contract would certainly be the second-largest on their team, second only to Witt’s.
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