Opinion: Why Cody Bellinger is the most important American League player this season

This offseason, the baseball world was captivated by the record breaking free agency of Juan Soto. Soto ended up leaving the Yankees for a 15 year, $765 million deal with the cross-town rival Mets, leaving a big void to fill in the Yankees lineup.

Less than two weeks later, the Yankees made a highly anticipated move to acquire Cody Bellinger from the Cubs.

It was a great move for the Yankees as they only gave up 30-year-old relief pitcher Cody Poteet, who will start the year in the minors for Chicago and the Cubs are eating a portion of Bellinger’s salary.

While the two players shouldn’t be compared after their performances last season, Bellinger is filling the spot in the Yankees lineup that would’ve been Soto’s. It not only makes him the biggest x-factor on the Yankees for 2025, he’s the most impactful player in the American League.

Bellinger has had an up and down career. He looked like he was on a hall of fame trajectory after winning National League Rookie of the Year with the Dodgers in 2017 and then winning National League MVP in 2019 after hitting .305 with 47 home runs.

The next few years would be hampered by injury, but even in a year where he only hit .165 in 95 games, Bellinger still had a productive postseason in 2021. After another rough year though, it was time for a change of scenery, Bellinger left for the Cubs.

His first year in Chicago was a big turnaround hitting .307 with 26 home runs and 97 RBI in 130 games. He took a dip again last year to hitting .266 with 18 home runs and 78 RBI in 130 games.

This shows a high ceiling for Bellinger this year, but a low floor. And he will have high expectations due to being the left-handed bat power bat at the top of the Yankees order instead of Soto.

He does have the benefit of being next to Aaron Judge in the lineup, with the likelihood to hit both in front of and behind Judge at different points throughout the year. The Yankees still have moving pieces due to injuries on the roster.

This is a team that went to the World Series last year, largely due to the production of Soto, as he finished third for the American League MVP and was their most productive hitter throughout the postseason.

If Bellinger can benefit from hitting around Judge, he could have his best season since his MVP season in 2019. He’s excited to be in New York, and brings a more versatile type of player to the lineup.

He fills the empty spot in the outfield and will likely be the opening day center fielder. He’s also a good first baseman though, in case newly acquired Paul Goldschmidt doesn’t work out since the Yankees have multiple young outfielders in the system.

First base has been a revolving door at best the last two years since Anthony Rizzo’s concussion in May 2023.

With that versatility also comes athleticism and speed the Yankees have been missing. He gives them speed for a team that has struggled in baserunning the last couple of years.

The top of the lineup which hasn’t really had any outside of the games Anthony Volpe was the leadoff hitter, a span in which he hit .229 over 106 games the last two years.

All of this points to the fact that Bellinger brings a new type of talent after the Yankees lost one of the best players in baseball this offseason. Bellinger could fit this team like a hand in a glove if he has a good season, and it could help the Yankees return to the World Series.

If he has a season like he did in his last three with the Dodgers though, the Yankees could end up looking more like they did in the second half of 2023, which was a disaster.

Jacob Rudy is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jar7371@psu.edu.