THE BRONX, NY — Despite a highly successful 2025 season with the New York Yankees and an acknowledged mutual interest in a reunion, a leading Yankees insider has revealed the surprising and simple reason why star outfielder Cody Bellinger could walk away from New York: The Yankees’ unwillingness to match the highest bidder due to payroll constraints.1
The narrative is not about market preference or clubhouse fit, but a hard-line stance from the Yankees’ front office, making the team a fierce competitor but potentially not the ultimate winner in the bidding war.
The Surprising Reason: The Budget Line
MLB.com Yankees beat reporter Bryan Hoch identified the primary concern, one that directly counters the “Evil Empire” reputation of the Yankees:2
“The Yankees say they have limits, and if a club steps up with more years or greater financial commitment, it would not be a surprise to see [Bellinger] move on.”
This is not a matter of talent but of strict financial ceiling. Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner has publicly stated his preference to lower the team’s luxury tax payroll for the 2026 season—a goal that becomes exponentially harder if they lock up Bellinger for the projected $150 million to $165 million he is expected to command.3
The decision to re-sign Trent Grisham to a $22 million qualifying offer further complicates the math, as the Yankees must now balance a crowded, expensive outfield with their overall budget goals.
The Real Complication: Scott Boras and the Competition
Bellinger is represented by super-agent Scott Boras, who rarely rushes a negotiation and is notorious for creating an aggressive bidding environment.4 The Yankees’ budget ceiling is a major vulnerability against rival suitors who have bigger financial motives:
Suitor
Motivation
Impact on Yankees
New York Mets
Seeking an elite, versatile left-handed bat to pair with Juan Soto and replace Pete Alonso (if he departs). They have vast financial resources.
Worst-Case Scenario: Losing Bellinger to the cross-town rival, echoing the sting of losing Juan Soto.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Looking to upgrade their outfield and are willing to use their massive payroll. Bellinger is familiar with the organization.
The Ultimate Snub: Bellinger choosing the team that non-tendered him over the Yankees would be a major blow to the Yankees’ status as a top free-agent destination.
Philadelphia Phillies
In perpetual search of an answer in center field or a power upgrade, the Phillies have proved they will spend heavily to compete in the NL East.
Forces the Yankees to spend more aggressively to counter the threat from another World Series contender.
Boras will leverage the competition and the Yankees’ self-imposed limit to secure the maximum possible deal, and if the Yankees refuse to go to the final number, Bellinger will walk.
The Trade-Off
The Yankees’ decision-making process is now a tense calculation:
Sign Bellinger: Guaranteed elite production but requires trading a high-value prospect (like Jasson Domínguez or Spencer Jones) to clear payroll and a roster spot.5
Let Bellinger Walk: Saves significant payroll and allows the Yankees to build around the high-upside prospects, but leaves a massive, immediate hole in the outfield.
The most surprising reason Bellinger may leave the Bronx is not that he doesn’t want to stay, but that the Yankees’ desire for budgetary responsibility is finally taking priority over the “highest bid” principle.
