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The 29-year-old Bellinger, whose father Clay
helped the Yankees win World Series titles in 1999 and 2000,
could play center field next year as Aaron Judge returns to
right following the departure of Juan Soto to the Mets.
Bellinger also can play first base, a position that opened when
Anthony Rizzo became a free agent.
Bellinger is owed $27.5 million in 2025 under the first of two
player options as part of an $80 million, three-year contract.
The two-time All-Star also has a $25 million player option for
2026 with a $5 million buyout that would be payable in equal
installments on Jan. 15, 2026, and Jan. 15, 2027.
Bellinger batted .266 with 18 homers and 78 RBIs in 130 games
this year. He was on the injured list from April 24 to May 7
with a broken right rib.
He drove in 33 runs in his last 39 games of the season, but
Chicago finished with an 83-79 record.
Bellinger made his major league debut in 2017 and spent his
first six seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was the NL
MVP in 2019, batting .305 with 47 homers and 115 RBIs in 156
games. He also helped LA win the World Series in 2020.
He was cut by the Dodgers in November 2022 and signed a $17.5
million, one-year deal with Chicago a month later. He regained
his form with the Cubs, hitting a career-best .307 with 26
homers, 97 RBIs and 20 steals in 130 games last season year.
Bellinger is a .259 hitter with 196 homers and 597 RBIs in 1,005
games. He turns 30 in July.
Poteet, 30, made his major league debut with Miami in 2021, had
Tommy John surgery on Aug. 17, 2022, returned to the mound with
Kansas City's Triple-A Omaha farm team on Sept. 23, 2023, was
released by the Royals and signed with the Yankees last January.
He went 3-0 with a 2.22 ERA in four starts and one relief
appearance during a season in which he was sidelined between
June 12 and Sept. 25 by a strained right triceps.
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