Bold headline: The Giants Are Eyeing Cody Bellinger—and the implications could reshape San Francisco’s off-season.
Offseason quiet as a snowfall in the Bay Area is giving way to real intrigue for the Giants. San Francisco is reportedly "checking in on" Cody Bellinger, per the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser. While Bellinger’s primary value at first base might not be a pressing need for a lineup that already includes Rafael Devers and Bryce Eldridge at that corner, his versatility would slot neatly into the team’s open right-field spot. There’s also the option to mix him into left or center occasionally, depending on how the Giants deploy Heliot Ramos or Jung Hoo Lee. Bellinger isn’t a classic center fielder, but he’s a strong defender on the corners, and his performance in 2025 with the Yankees featured solid defense: +15 Defensive Runs Saved and +6 Outs Above Average.
From the batter’s box, the 30-year-old left-hander delivered a compelling season: 125 wRC+, 29 home runs, and a .272/.334/.480 line over 656 plate appearances. He performed notably better at Yankee Stadium than on the road, which raises questions if Oracle Park’s ballpark quirks would affect him as a home hitter. Still, Bellinger handles both right- and left-handed pitching well and has posted one of the sport’s tougher strikeout rates to coax down over the last few years.
Historically, the Giants have shown interest in Bellinger during previous free-agent cycles, a pattern that traces back to Farhan Zaidi’s tenure. Current president of baseball operations Buster Posey, who faced Bellinger during his Dodgers days, sits on the team’s board and has built a track record with Boras clients, including Matt Chapman, whom Posey helped lock in during the 2024 season’s closing stages.
It’s plausible the Giants’ outreach to Bellinger was routine due diligence or a signal to measure interest rather than a full-court press. The big question remains: will San Francisco meet Bellinger’s asking price? MLB Trade Rumors projected a five-year, $140 million deal for the former NL MVP, who ranked eighth on their top free agents list for the 2025–26 cycle. Boras is widely expected to push for a long-term, lucrative contract that eluded Bellinger in the 2023–24 offseason.
Giants chairman Greg Johnson has expressed caution about long contracts, especially for pitchers. A position-player signing like Bellinger might slide under that radar a bit, yet San Francisco already has significant commitments to Devers, Chapman, Lee, and Willy Adames through 2029.
Beyond the lineup, starting pitching remains a more glaring hole for the Giants. With Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, and Landen Roupp in the orbit for rotation spots, the team could pursue a trade route to address the mound while using free-agent dollars to bolster the lineup with a player like Bellinger.
As for where Bellinger could land, the Yankees have been the strongest link—New York reportedly prioritized a proven option over other top targets such as Kyle Tucker. Other clubs mentioned in various reports include the Mets, Angels, Blue Jays, and Phillies. Philadelphia’s scenario has cooled somewhat since Kyle Schwarber re-signed with the club.
What this all means for you as a fan: a major free-agent outfield addition could alter the Giants’ payroll calculus, shift the balance of power within the NL West, and influence how San Francisco allocates funds between pitching and hitting. Do you think San Francisco should chase a high-priced outfielder now, or should they bide their time and focus on building a dominant rotation first? Share your thoughts in the comments.
