PAYROLL RUMBLE: Heyman Confirms Yankees Zeroing in on Bellinger Despite Looming $300M Tax.vc
BRONX, NY — MLB insider Jon Heyman has delivered a pair of critical updates that perfectly summarize the New York Yankees’ aggressive, yet financially constrained, offseason strategy: “I think Bellinger is the guy they’re focused on,” he stated, before immediately noting that the Yankees “don’t have a $300 million cap and aren’t likely to stay under it.”
This dual commentary reveals a fierce internal tug-of-war: the Yankees’ baseball operations staff is determined to bring back the All-Star outfielder, while ownership’s oft-stated desire to stay below the top luxury tax threshold is rapidly becoming untenable.
I. The Priority: Bringing Back Cody Bellinger
Bellinger remains the Yankees’ top priority for a clear reason: his exceptional 2025 season with the team cemented him as the perfect fit for the Bronx lineup.
| Bellinger’s 2025 Impact | Key Stat (Yankees) | Benefit to Team |
| Lineup Balance | Left-handed bat with a .272 AVG | Breaks up the right-handed power of Judge and Stanton. |
| Power Fit | 29 Home Runs | Power swing is tailor-made for Yankee Stadium’s short porch. |
| Defensive Versatility | Plus-defender at all three outfield spots and 1B | Provides crucial flexibility, especially with Trent Grisham accepting the Qualifying Offer. |
Heyman’s report underscores that the Yankees are making a “big effort” to secure Bellinger, despite the reported “gap in years” between what Bellinger’s agent, Scott Boras, is seeking (likely 5-6 years, estimated around $165 million) and what the Yankees prefer.
II. The Reality: The $300 Million Tax Threshold
The second half of Heyman’s statement addresses the biggest hurdle: money. Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner has repeatedly voiced a desire to keep the payroll down, specifically mentioning avoiding the top-tier luxury tax.
- Top Tax Threshold (2026): Set at $304 million.
- Yankees’ Current Payroll: With their current committed contracts and arbitration estimates (including Trent Grisham’s QO), the Yankees are already projected to have a competitive balance tax (luxury tax) payroll of roughly $271 million to $280 million.
- The Bellinger Math: A potential $30 million AAV for Bellinger would push their total payroll well into the $300 million range, guaranteeing they exceed the top threshold and face the steepest penalties.
The Verdict: The fact that Heyman believes they are unlikely to stay under the $300 million mark signals that the Yankees are prepared to ignore ownership’s financial ceiling to acquire the player they believe they need to compete for a championship. The pursuit of Bellinger is a direct challenge to the team’s self-imposed financial restraints.
