Yankees Predicted to Land Major News on Projected $182 Million Star

The New York Yankees have been linked to several marquee free agents in ongoing MLB rumors, but the club faces their own challenges in re-signing a number of notable key players. New York’s offseason path will be heavily dictated by what 2-time All-Star Cody Bellinger decides to do in MLB free agency.

There continues to be a growing buzz that the Yankees will be able to re-sign Bellinger, but New York also faces competition from opposing clubs. The Athletic’s Andy McCullough offered a major prediction for every MLB team. New York re-signs Bellinger in the analyst’s latest predictions.

“Bellinger proved to be an excellent fit during his first season in The Bronx, and the Yankees appear interested in making a long-term commitment,” McCullough detailed in a November 25, 2025, story titled, “One Black Friday 2025 free-agent deal for every MLB team.”

“At 30, Bellinger has already been through so much in his career: from MVP to DFA to less flashy but still productive years with the Cubs and Yankees. His versatility in the field and adaptability at the plate make him a solid bet to stay productive during a lengthy deal.”

Here’s a look at the latest Yankees rumors and news amid MLB free agency.

Yankees OF Cody Bellinger’s Projected Market Value is a 6-Year, $182 Million Contract

Bellinger opted out of a three-year, $80 million contract and could be headed for an even larger payday. Spotrac projects Bellinger’s market value to be a six-year, $182 million contract.

Bellinger’s agent Scott Boras sounded optimistic that the star could re-sign with the Yankees.

“Really, he’s the only five-tool free agent outfielder,” Boras said of Bellinger’s future during a November 12, interview with USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. “And when you look at the ‘25 season, I’d say among all the free agent outfielders, he was the top gun of the class.

“… I think the Yankees are looking to improve, not subtract. So since Grisham and Bellinger were both on the team in that year.”

Yankees GM Brian Cashman on Cody Bellinger’s Future Amid Rumors: ‘We’re Very Interested in Bringing (Bellinger) Back’

Like the Yankees, the Los Angeles Dodgers have been linked to several marquee free agents, including Bellinger. The Dodgers already have familiarity with Bellinger from his first six MLB seasons with the club. Despite buzz about the Dodgers and other franchises, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has maintained that the team wants to re-sign Bellinger

“We’re very interested in bringing [Bellinger] back,” Cashman noted, per Nightengale. “He’s going to have a lot of choices because he can do a lot of different things.

“He was a terrific addition for us last year … We’d be better served if we could retain him. But if not, we’ll have to look at alternative ways to fill it and see where that takes us.”

The Yankees already received good news with Trent Grisham accepting the team’s qualifying offer. Now, New York looks to bring back Bellinger which could end up being an expensive move.

Bellinger hit .272 with 98 RBI and 29 home runs in 152 appearances for the Yankees in 2025.

Why Lions’ Aidan Hutchinson didn’t care about breaking Micah Parsons’ contract record

Week 12’s wild escape against the Giants left Aidan Hutchinson thinking more about lessons than style points. Detroit blew coverages, missed tackles, and still found a way to win 34-27 in overtime, a result Hutchinson called the mark of a good team that can survive “all the bad stuff” and still finish. At 7-4 heading into a Thanksgiving showdown with the Packers, the Lions are learning how to win ugly.

That same perspective carried straight into Hutchinson’s contract negotiations. As detailed by ESPN, his camp had a clear choice: take Detroit’s latest offer, heavy on guarantees but shy of Micah Parsons’ massive $47 million-per-year deal with Green Bay, or drag things out in an effort to nudge the market even higher. The second route would have meant public pressure, holdout noise, and likely trade chatter. Hutchinson wanted no part of that.

Agent Mike McCartney told ESPN the talks were sometimes frustrating but never hostile, with both sides committed to staying at the table until they were satisfied.

In the end, the Lions put down roughly $180 million over four years, with about $45 million per season in new money, a figure that trails only Parsons among non-quarterbacks while still locking Hutchinson into Detroit long term.

Hutchinson admitted he understands the unwritten responsibility stars have to push the market, but he was blunt about his priorities. Chasing an extra one or two million or insisting on topping Parsons’ number simply was not worth prolonging the process when he already knew where he wanted to be.

Parsons remains the financial and statistical benchmark. As ESPN’s Rob Demovsky noted, the Packers star has posted at least 10 sacks in five straight seasons, a streak topped only by Reggie White since sacks became official in 1982. That is the rarefied air Hutchinson now lives in competitively, even if he chose not to chase Parsons dollar-for-dollar.

In his mind, securing life-changing guarantees, avoiding drama, and staying exactly where he wanted to play mattered more than winning the headline battle. If the Lions turn this core into deep playoff runs, no one in Detroit will care that his contract came in just below Micah Parsons’.

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