No team has been more aggressive in the trade market than the Yankees this winter. While the team reportedly missed out on All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker due to an unwillingness to part with Luis Gil, New York did acquire Devin Williams last week in a three-player transaction with the Brewers. Apparently, GM Brian Cashman enjoyed that first NL Central trade so much, he’s decided to double-dip.
Per ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Yankees have obtained former National League MVP Cody Bellinger from the Cubs in exchange for right-handed reliever Cody Poteet.
To say this trade has been anticipated for days would be an understatement. Chicago has been looking to move on from Bellinger since the beginning of the offseason and that feeling was only amplified following the team’s acquisition of the aforementioned Tucker. Conversely, after losing Juan Soto, the Yankees have been looking for a way to improve the offensive ceiling of their lineup. The fact that Bellinger is an accomplished CF doesn’t hurt, either, as New York can now shift Aaron Judge back to the less physically-taxing right field.
Since his MVP campaign in 2019, Bellinger has been a perplexing asset. He’s improved since an absolutely horrendous 2021 that saw him post a 47 wRC+ in 95 games, yet his advanced stats are never as inviting as his surface numbers. Take last season as a perfect example. Bellinger slashed a respectable .266/.325/.426 in 569 plate appearances. However, he also sat in just the 15th percentile of hard hit rate (32.9%) and 29th percentile of expected wOBA (.301). Still, you don’t have to hit it very hard as a left-handed bat to get it out at Yankee Stadium. Bellinger’s profile should improve thanks to his new home park.
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