Yankees Rumors: Slow-moving Cody Bellinger market could be complicated by 3 teams

Spoiler alert: The New York Yankees would like to retain Cody Bellinger rather than leave two vacancies in their outfield entering next season (RIP Trent Grisham, hope you love Cincinnati). But don't pencil him into your programs just yet; it's very clearly going to be difficult to make it happen, and could reach an uncomfortable financial point for the Yankees.

Kyle Tucker surely won't love this, but MLB insider Jon Heyman wrote on Thursday that Bellinger's market will be "slow-moving". Maybe Bellinger's representation wants a bunch of the Tucker second-choices to fight over their prize, but it sounds like the outfield market in totality could stretch on too long as a result. You wanted 'em to find a home quickly? Ha, ha, good luck, but no.

Tucker and the Dodgers seem like a match made in heaven, but Heyman believes you can't rule out a reunion in LA for Bellinger, either. Tack on the crosstown Mets - who had a front-row seat to watching Bellinger thrive this past season - and the Phillies, and the Yankees might have to outmuscle three behemoths to get a deal done.

Oh, no, the Yankees, Mets, Phillies and Dodgers in a molasses market for the same player? Scott Boras is gonna be so PISSED, you guys!

Yankees Rumors: Mets, Phillies, Dodgers could delay Yanks' Cody Bellinger pursuit

The Mets could be lurking; after all, they don't usually spend big on pitching, preferring to splurge on offensive talent. They've also scrimped on center field the past few seasons, from Harrison Bader to Tyrone Taylor to Jose Siri. It's possible, but I'd bet against it; Steve Cohen understood that Juan Soto was a unique-as-all-hell free agent and knew he had to go crazy one more time before tightening the budget (Eds. Note: LOL, Mets fans assured me he had no limits).

The Dodgers? Eh. They non-tendered Bellinger once, knowing full well what we all do: his hard-hit rate and metrics aren't exactly a beacon of sustainability (the Mets know this, too). The man has made it work regardless, and is still on the verge of his peak, but depending on the contract length, this one could eventually go awry.

That leaves the Phillies, in desperate need of a splash and prepared to shuck Nick Castellanos, and the Yankees. Even Heyman agrees that the likeliest challenge for the Yanks here is one of patience, though. Unless the bidding leaps precipitously, they will probably get their man eventually.

Now, Boras will sit and wait, hoping these rumors play a role in at least building the image that the Yankees are going to have to stretch for what they've telegraphed.