BELLINGER JOINS THE BRONX BOMBERS
The New York Yankees acquired outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger and cash from the Chicago Cubs for pitcher Cody Poteet.
What does it give the New York Yankees
After Juan Soto's departure, the Yankees added another big name to their outfield in Bellinger. The 29-year-old will be their new center-fielder, allowing Aaron Judge to move back to right field. Bellinger is coming off a down year, following his bounce-back 2023 season with the Cubs. A move to Yankee Stadium could benefit the left-handed slugger, and he is still a solid defender. That said, the acquisition is a gamble given Bellinger's recent inconsistency at the plate. Will it pay off?
What does it give the Chicago Cubs
This trade is a salary dump for the Cubs, after a mediocre 2024 season from Bellinger. He was owed another $27 million this year, and Chicago had to cover a portion of that to get a deal done with New York. As for Poteet, he is a 30-year-old right-hander who has dealt with injuries much of the last few seasons. He has worked mostly as a starter, and should compete for a depth role with the Cubs this spring. Chicago has enough outfield depth to survive Bellinger's departure.
Fantasy impact
Bellinger gets a definite boost from this trade. He should easily surpass his 18 home runs of last season, since he now plays home games at Yankee Stadium. He could even thrive in a slightly reduced role in a New York lineup that is deeper than Chicago. He is a strong bounce-back candidate for fantasy leagues in '25 but do not overrate him. On the other hand, Poteet is unlikely to be a factor in fantasy leagues. He is still trying to work his way back to MLB after multiple long-term injuries.
