The New York Yankees and Cody Bellinger have agreed to a five-year, $162.5 million contract, ending a winter-long courtship. The deal includes a $20 million signing bonus, opt-outs after the second and third seasons, and a full no-trade clause. Bellinger will return as the Yankees' primary left fielder, dislodging top prospect Jasson Dominguez from an everyday role.

Bellinger’s return solidifies a lineup that needed a proven bat after losing Juan Soto. He posted a .272 average with 29 homers and an .813 OPS last season, thriving behind Aaron Judge. His elite defense and switch-hitting prowess made him a priority for a Yankees team that won 94 games but fell short in the postseason.

For Bellinger, the contract represents his largest payday after a career marked by extreme highs and lows. A former MVP with the Dodgers, he struggled with injuries before reviving his career with the Cubs and then the Yankees. This deal secures his future in New York and signals the Yankees’ commitment to contending immediately.