Jeff Passan's Cody Bellinger nugget makes Yankees outfield shakeup obvious

If no one else has got Yankees fans, you know Jeff Passan has got Yankees fans — and he's going to lay his information plain without a sweet sugar coat.

ESPN's primary insider posted a 10-item "watch list" on Threads late Sunday night, one week before the frenzied Winter Meetings are set to begin. His third item was all about Bellinger. While many have insinuated in recent weeks that the Yankees' "Plan A" mentality will result in Bellinger returning, Passan doesn't see the situation as quite so cut-and-dried. Instead, he believes the "door is open" for the Dodgers, Phillies, and Mets (and a nebulous group of "others") to make a push for the outfielder.

Why does Passan believe this? Mostly because he doesn't entirely believe what Brian Cashman is selling about the ripple effects of the Trent Grisham qualifying offer decision.

According to the Yankees' public statements, they always knew Grisham might accept their $22 million olive branch, and that money will in no way interfere with their pursuit of Bellinger. That may be true! But it doesn't tell the complete story. If Grisham's money doesn't affect their Bellinger chase, you can bet it will affect some other potential financial pursuits.

And if, for some reason, it doesn't change free agency, it'll certainly change the lives of the Yankees' other young outfielders, Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones. "Trent Grisham accepting the qualifying offer would make [Bellinger's] return a multi-part move, because they're unlikely to go into the season with Grisham, Bellinger, Aaron Judge, Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones," Passan wrote, admitting the semi-obvious, but doing it without couching expectations.

Yankees bringing back Cody Bellinger would lead to Jasson Domínguez/Spencer Jones trade, per ESPN's Jeff Passan

It'd also be "ideal," per Hal Steinbrenner, to lower the Yankees' payroll next season. That's a much easier proposition if you don't have three outfielders making $20M+ for the 2026 season and, instead, rely on two hyped members of your youthful core to carry the torch.

Bellinger returning may have felt like far more of a fait accompli than Juan Soto at the end of 2024, given their respective holds over the market and Bellinger's bat-to-ball ability on a budget to complement Judge's historic greatness. But logic conquers all; either Bellinger's gone, or one (or both) of the kids departs.