Yankees could get their way with Cody Bellinger if Kyle Tucker has to settle

There is a growing sentiment that Cody Bellinger won't sign any time soon, insteadchoosing to wait for Kyle Tucker to land somewhere and set the market. The idea is that if Tucker receives a massive deal, it will only serve to raise Bellinger's price tag. That could be a scary proposition for the New York Yankees.

The Yankees have Bellinger at the top of their list, and seemingly have no problem waiting out the market. With the former NL MVP's asking price said to be above and beyond what any team is willing to pay, patience isn't a bad strategy, but when it comes to Brian Cashman, patience can easily turn into lethargy.

The good news is that Tucker's market has been slow to develop. It feels like it's been ages since he met with the Toronto Blue Jays at the beginning of December, and aside from some rumblings that clubs like the Dodgers would consider him on a short-term deal, there have mostly been crickets surrounding his fate.

Cody Bellinger waiting for Kyle Tucker to set the market could play nicely into the Yankees' hands

What exactly is holding up Tucker's market is an open question. Rumblings have come out that Tucker might not love playing the game of baseball, which might give some clubs pause, though it's hard to determine how valid they really are.

Otherwise, Tucker is coming off another campaign where he missed significant time due to injury. While not as severe as the fractured shin that limited him to just 78 games in 2024, calf and hand injuries halted Tucker's progress at just 136 contests in 2025.

With that, he saw his worst power production since his debut in 2018, slugging a still very solid .464 (though that's a significant drop off from the .585 mark he put up in 2024 and the .517 SLG he posted in 2023). For his career, he's slugged .507, so hitting a low when he should be entering his absolute prime years is a bit concerning.

Barring some unforeseen development, it appears that the former Chicago Cubs star will be faced with disappointment. Aside from the rumors, the injury concerns, and the slight downtick in performance, labor uncertainty heading into 2027 is working against him in his quest for a mega deal.

That might force him into a short-term pillow contract. Bellinger knows that reality full well. That history has led to buzz that Bellinger wants a deal longer than six years. That type of commitment rightfully has the Yankees and other clubs feeling a bit uneasy.

However, if Tucker, who is a year-and-a-half younger and more consistent in recent years, has to accept a short-term deal, it will force Bellinger to do the same. If that were to come to fruition, it would play right into the Yankees' hands, and the club would be wise to pounce, finally making the splash fans have been hoping for.