BREAKING TRADE: Cody Bellinger Dealt by Cubs to AL East

The Chicago Cubs have finally pulled off one of the least kept secrets in baseball this offseason, trading outfielder Cody Bellinger to the New York Yankees.

Cubs sending Yankees $5M in Bellinger trade, source tells @TheAthletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 17, 2024

In exchange, the Cubs receive right-handed reliever Cody Poteet, and send the Yankees $5M to help cover the cost of Bellinger's $27.5M contract this season.

The move continues the Yankees' makeover in the aftermath of losing Juan Soto. Bellinger won't make up for the offense that Soto is taking with him (unless Belli returns to his 2019 MVP status—highly unlikely), but he will be a better defender in the outfield (he can also play a fine first base, another Yankees sore spot).

The Bronx Bombers, since the Soto departure, have also signed free agent starter Max Fried to a massive eight-year deal, and traded for All-Star closer Devin Williams, one of the best in the business.

And according to insider Bob Nightengale, they're likely not done yet, with designs on signing one of Pete Alonso, Christian Walker, Carlos Santana or Paul Goldschmidt to man first base.

Poteet, 30, has only pitched a total of 63 major league innings across three seasons, and last season, had a nice 24.1 IP for the Yanks, with a 2.22 ERA.

But this deal was all about the Cubs getting out from under Bellinger's contract, which still has two more years to run, if he picks up his $25M option as he did with his $27.5M option for 2025. It was at that point, that his fate in the Windy City was sealed.

Bellinger put up a middling season in Wrigley in 2024, with 18 homers and a .751 OPS. That was a disappointment after his first year in Chicago, when he seemed to come close to regaining his full form, batting .307 with an .881 OPS and 26 dingers.

But the Yankees will be happy to plug him into the outfield, likely in center, after the void left by Soto.