Yankees Rumors: WFAN host suggests Cody Bellinger return is near

While Cody Bellinger hasn't been shy about advertising his newfound freedom as a free agent, his return to the New York Yankees might be a surer bet than many assume.

Bellinger has been linked to the most powerful non-Yankees franchises MLB has to offer in the form of the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, and others. Despite Brian Cashman publicly declaring his desires for a Bellinger return, that hasn't done much to assuage the fears of Belli's most passionate supporters within the Yankees' fan base.

However, some new intel on Bellinger from WFAN host Emmanuel Berbari might produce a positive flutter in the chests of Yankees fans hoping to see the slugger in pinstripes in 2026.

Emmanuel Berbari says it's "extremely likely" that Cody Bellinger will play for the Yankees in 2026

Appearing on SNY, Berbari first acknowledged that Bellinger might best fit with the Mets based on their desperate needs in the outfield and at first base (depending on what happens with Pete Alonso’s free agency, of course).

However, Berbari also described Bellinger and the Yankees as a “match made in heaven” and asserted that the only way Bellinger wouldn’t return to the Bronx is if he doesn’t want to. "Bellinger loved it here from day one, the connection to his father, the fit at Yankee Stadium, he embraces wearing the pinstripes,” Berbari said. “I think it's extremely likely he's back.”

Berbari's take is interesting in that it implies the Yankees would be willing to pay virtually any price to retain Bellinger, even if Belli's agent Scott Boras were to masterfully skyrocket his client's market value far north of $30 million per year. Keep in mind that the Yankees are already paying Trent Grisham $22 million in 2026 after Grisham accepted his qualifying offer.

When the Grisham news hit, many Yankees fans assumed that Cashman and New York's front office would now have to look the other way on Bellinger. To the contrary, the Yanks continue to appear willing and able to pay Bellinger and bring back their identical starting outfield from 2025, which produced 116 homers between Belli, Grisham, and American League MVP Aaron Judge.

Ultimately, it's still a tad early to assume that Bellinger to the Yanks is a done deal, especially with the bulk of free-agent decisions expected to happen in about a week and a half. In the meantime, there's been such a flurry of reporting in all directions about Bellinger, including a head-scratching Thanksgiving Day assertion from The New York Post's Jon Heyman that Kyle Tucker is the Yankees' "backup plan" in case they don't get Bellinger.

Was this new report from Berbari enough to toss aside all of the conflicting reports about Bellinger's landing spot? You be the judge.