Mets eyeing Yankees' backup plan could be a Cody Bellinger hint

The way the offseason has played out for the New York Yankees and the New York Mets has simultaneously been extremely different and eerily the same. The Yankees have refused to add anyone of consequence who wasn't already a part of the roster in 2025, while the Mets have bid farewell to fan favorites Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz, and Jeff McNeil all winter long. However, the vibe around both franchises is one of disappointment.

Another similarity between both clubs this winter has been their reported interest in Cody Bellinger. For the Yankees, a reunion would continue their trend, but on a much larger scale than guys like Amed Rosario, Paul Blackburn, and Ryan Yarbrough can provide. For the Mets, landing Bellinger would represent the third notable 2025 Yankee they'd add to their roster, alongside Devin Williams and Luke Weaver.

However, rumblings have come out that the Mets might be setting their sights lower (another common Mets theme this winter) in the outfield market, eyeing a potential Bellinger Plan B for the Yankees in Austin Hays.

The Mets' interest in Austin Hays could be a positive for the Yankees' pursuit of Cody Bellinger

With Bellinger reportedly staunch in his desire for a long-term deal in excess of six years, we could see the Mets, who have seemed allergic to giving anyone not named Juan Soto more than three years, drop out of the race.

If that's the case, the Hays interest, combined with the alleged trade talks taking place between the Mets and White Sox for Luis Robert Jr.'s services, would seem to end any serious consideration of Bellinger on their part. At the very least, it's interesting that several Mets alternatives have dropped in unison.

Hays is a classic platoon bat that mashes lefties and the type of player prime for a one-year deal. Robert Jr. is under contract for $20 million in 2026, and comes with a club option for 2027 at the same amount (with a $2 million buy out). After refusing to offer Pete Alonso a long-term deal, these two seem to fit the bill of the commitment-phobic Mets much better than a seven-plus-year deal for Bellinger would.

Ironically, that might help the Yankees land Bellinger for fewer years than he desires. It's felt like this was a three-horse race between the Mets, Yankees, and the Los Angeles Dodgers, but if one of the suitors drops out, Bellinger will lose a good deal of leverage.

Bellinger isn't expected to sign until after Kyle Tucker comes off the board, as Scott Boras hopes to ride the wave of any potential momentum of a Tucker mega-deal to drive up Bellinger's price tag.

That might not come, though, and if the Dodgers decide to turn their attention elsewhere (they've been linked to Steven Kwan on the trade market and Tucker in free agency), that could leave the Yankees as Bellinger's only dance partner.

One step at a time, of course, but for now, it certainly seems like Bellinger is at best a secondary focus for the Mets. That would bring nothing but good things to the Yankees' pursuit.