The Apple of Their Eye: Can the Mets Steal Bellinger and Deliver Another Bronx Beatdown?
Published on: August 16, 2025
The concrete canyons of New York City echo with the groans of disillusioned baseball fans. Two teams, overflowing with payroll riches, find themselves drowning in a sea of unmet expectations. The Yankees, perennial contenders, cling precariously to a Wild Card spot, their seven-game division lead in late May a distant, bittersweet memory. The Mets, after flashing brilliance in early June, are now free-falling faster than a dropped foul ball from the upper deck, their playoff hopes dangling by a thread thinner than a freshly-strung E string on Billy Joel’s piano.
Both teams splurged last offseason. The Mets, in a move that sent seismic tremors through the baseball world, snatched superstar Juan Soto from the Yankees’ clutches with a contract so gargantuan it made Croesus blush. The Yankees, licking their wounds, countered by acquiring former MVP Cody Bellinger, hoping his resurgence in the Windy City would translate to pinstriped glory.
But as the dog days of summer give way to the crisp air of autumn, the Big Apple harvest looks disappointingly meager. And now, the whispers are starting, the rumors swirling like the winds whipping through the gaps between skyscrapers: Could the Mets be poised to deliver another knockout blow to their crosstown rivals? Could they, once again, pilfer a key player from the Bronx Bombers and add insult to the injury of a collapsing season?
The object of this latest crosstown covetousness? None other than Cody Bellinger himself.
Bellinger, who initially declined an opt-out clause in his three-year, $80 million deal with the Yankees, is widely expected to test the free-agent waters this upcoming offseason. And according to seasoned baseball scribe Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Mets are lurking, their interest piqued by Bellinger’s defensive versatility and offensive potential.
This scenario, as any Yankees fan will tell you, is a nightmarish echo of the Soto saga. To lose not one, but two impact outfielders to their crosstown rivals in consecutive offseasons? It’s the kind of thing that could drive even the most stoic of pinstriped loyalists to drown their sorrows in a $18 stadium beer.
The potential implications for both teams are enormous. For the Mets, landing Bellinger would be a coup, bolstering their outfield defense and adding a potent bat to a lineup that has, at times, sputtered like a taxi stuck in Midtown traffic. He offers a valuable insurance policy should Pete Alonso, another potential free agent, decide to seek greener pastures. Bellinger's ability to play multiple positions – including first base – makes him a particularly attractive option for a Mets team looking for flexibility and depth.
For the Yankees, losing Bellinger would be a devastating blow, a public relations disaster, and a confirmation of their recent inability to compete with the Mets, both on the field and in the free-agent market. It would be a bitter pill to swallow, particularly given their significant financial investment in the player and the hopes they pinned on his resurgence.
The Yankees, of course, won't let Bellinger walk without a fight. They recognize his value, both on the field and in the clubhouse. They know that losing him to the Mets would not only weaken their own roster but also strengthen a direct competitor.
The question, as always, comes down to dollars and cents. How much are the Yankees willing to spend to keep Bellinger in pinstripes? And will the Mets, flush with cash and eager to assert their dominance in the New York baseball landscape, be willing to outbid them?
The battle for Bellinger’s services promises to be one of the most compelling storylines of the upcoming offseason. It’s a high-stakes poker game with the fate of two franchises hanging in the balance. The Yankees, desperate to avoid another embarrassing defection to Queens, will likely pull out all the stops to retain their star outfielder. The Mets, meanwhile, smelling blood in the water, will be equally determined to land another big fish and further solidify their position as a force to be reckoned with.
Beyond the financial implications, the potential move carries significant symbolic weight. Another Mets heist of a Yankee star would further shift the balance of power in New York baseball. It would solidify the Mets' ascendance and deepen the Yankees' recent struggles, turning the crosstown rivalry into a lopsided affair.
As the season winds down and the hot stove league heats up, all eyes will be on Cody Bellinger. He holds the key to the next chapter in this ongoing New York baseball drama. Will he remain in the Bronx, or will he cross the East River and don the orange and blue, delivering another gut punch to the Yankees and their fans? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: the battle for Bellinger will be a slugfest, every bit as intense and dramatic as the Subway Series itself. And the winner will not only gain a valuable player but also bragging rights in the city that never sleeps, where baseball is more than just a game – it's a religion.
Both teams splurged last offseason. The Mets, in a move that sent seismic tremors through the baseball world, snatched superstar Juan Soto from the Yankees’ clutches with a contract so gargantuan it made Croesus blush. The Yankees, licking their wounds, countered by acquiring former MVP Cody Bellinger, hoping his resurgence in the Windy City would translate to pinstriped glory.
But as the dog days of summer give way to the crisp air of autumn, the Big Apple harvest looks disappointingly meager. And now, the whispers are starting, the rumors swirling like the winds whipping through the gaps between skyscrapers: Could the Mets be poised to deliver another knockout blow to their crosstown rivals? Could they, once again, pilfer a key player from the Bronx Bombers and add insult to the injury of a collapsing season?
The object of this latest crosstown covetousness? None other than Cody Bellinger himself.
Bellinger, who initially declined an opt-out clause in his three-year, $80 million deal with the Yankees, is widely expected to test the free-agent waters this upcoming offseason. And according to seasoned baseball scribe Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Mets are lurking, their interest piqued by Bellinger’s defensive versatility and offensive potential.
This scenario, as any Yankees fan will tell you, is a nightmarish echo of the Soto saga. To lose not one, but two impact outfielders to their crosstown rivals in consecutive offseasons? It’s the kind of thing that could drive even the most stoic of pinstriped loyalists to drown their sorrows in a $18 stadium beer.
The potential implications for both teams are enormous. For the Mets, landing Bellinger would be a coup, bolstering their outfield defense and adding a potent bat to a lineup that has, at times, sputtered like a taxi stuck in Midtown traffic. He offers a valuable insurance policy should Pete Alonso, another potential free agent, decide to seek greener pastures. Bellinger's ability to play multiple positions – including first base – makes him a particularly attractive option for a Mets team looking for flexibility and depth.
For the Yankees, losing Bellinger would be a devastating blow, a public relations disaster, and a confirmation of their recent inability to compete with the Mets, both on the field and in the free-agent market. It would be a bitter pill to swallow, particularly given their significant financial investment in the player and the hopes they pinned on his resurgence.
The Yankees, of course, won't let Bellinger walk without a fight. They recognize his value, both on the field and in the clubhouse. They know that losing him to the Mets would not only weaken their own roster but also strengthen a direct competitor.
The question, as always, comes down to dollars and cents. How much are the Yankees willing to spend to keep Bellinger in pinstripes? And will the Mets, flush with cash and eager to assert their dominance in the New York baseball landscape, be willing to outbid them?
The battle for Bellinger’s services promises to be one of the most compelling storylines of the upcoming offseason. It’s a high-stakes poker game with the fate of two franchises hanging in the balance. The Yankees, desperate to avoid another embarrassing defection to Queens, will likely pull out all the stops to retain their star outfielder. The Mets, meanwhile, smelling blood in the water, will be equally determined to land another big fish and further solidify their position as a force to be reckoned with.
Beyond the financial implications, the potential move carries significant symbolic weight. Another Mets heist of a Yankee star would further shift the balance of power in New York baseball. It would solidify the Mets' ascendance and deepen the Yankees' recent struggles, turning the crosstown rivalry into a lopsided affair.
As the season winds down and the hot stove league heats up, all eyes will be on Cody Bellinger. He holds the key to the next chapter in this ongoing New York baseball drama. Will he remain in the Bronx, or will he cross the East River and don the orange and blue, delivering another gut punch to the Yankees and their fans? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: the battle for Bellinger will be a slugfest, every bit as intense and dramatic as the Subway Series itself. And the winner will not only gain a valuable player but also bragging rights in the city that never sleeps, where baseball is more than just a game – it's a religion.
Back to news