Latest rumored Cody Bellinger contract demands even have Yankees' competition scared

The New York Yankees have been the "perceived favorites" for Cody Bellinger's services for so long that it's easy to forget they have no interest in crossing a certain threshold on his next contract. The only lingering question throughout the laborious process has been ... does anyone else want to?

At some point, Bellinger's demands will be either met or lowered. For now, one week out from Christmas, it seems he's still waiting for more data before deciding exactly how high he's aiming.

Jeff Passan's latest summation of the market indicates that Bellinger is still hoping for the type of offer that would seemingly eliminate the Yankees in the chase for his services. It's difficult to reconcile the idea that staying is his preference with his rumored demands, but ... you can't receive something you don't ask for, right?

As Passan wrote on Thursday, "Bregman and Bellinger have taken shorter-term deals with opt-outs in the past, so both are looking for the security of long-term deals. Neither is likely to move off such an ask. Bregman figures to seek six years. At 30 years old, Bellinger could pursue even longer."

Will anyone offer Cody Bellinger a seven or eight-year deal? It's hard to imagine the Yankees (or Mets) doing that.

The Dodgers — along with the Mets and Yankees, the third team that typically completes the interested trio — likely won't be in on any contract that stretches past a trio of seasons. That leaves the Mets and Yanks alone to fight it out over who will award Bellinger with a long-term deal that also satisfies his thirst for winning.

David Stearns, who wouldn't give Pete Alonso four years, let alone five, probably doesn't yearn to pass Bellinger a seven- or eight-year offer.

Mets fans? They don't exactly want to hand him a blank check, either.

The Yankees have traditionally preferred to stretch high AAV offers over longer and longer periods of time in order to reduce their annual bill. It's typically right in their wheelhouse to take a five-year player and hand him a six-year deal. Of course, that's also how you wind up paying DJ LeMahieu in perpetuity.

If the entire world is spooked about Bellinger's lingering demands, that fits well into the Yankees' pocket. But the longer they're forced to wait, the higher the chance that a uniquely aggrieved franchise — yes, we're all thinking about the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim here — caves and splurges.

Then, it'll come down to what Bellinger really wants, rather than whether one New York franchise can hold off the other even once this offseason.