Sources: Cubs trade Bellinger, cash to Yankees

Mohamed Magdy  

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Sources: Cubs trade Bellinger, cash to Yankees

The New York Yankees acquired outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger in a trade with the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, continuing to stock up on high-end talent in the wake of outfielder Juan Soto's free agent defection to the New York Mets, sources told ESPN.

In the deal, the Yankees will receive $5 million to offset Bellinger's salary -- he will make $27.5 million in 2025 and has a player option for $25 million in 2026 -- and will send right-hander Cody Poteet to the Cubs, sources said.

Bellinger, 29, is a former National League MVP whose father, Clay, played for the Yankees from 1999 to 2001. His return to form after three substandard seasons came in 2023 with the Cubs, and he agreed to a three-year, $80 million free agent contract with Chicago in March.

After hitting .266/.325/.426 with 18 home runs and 78 RBIs this year, Bellinger declined to opt out of the rest of his deal. Chicago will pay $2.5 million to cover part of Bellinger's $27.5 million salary this season. The remaining $2.5 million will either cover the contract buyout if Bellinger does not exercise his player option or go toward his $25 million salary in 2026, according to a source.

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