MLB

Cubs receive: RP Cody Poteet

Yankees receive: CF Cody Bellinger

At last, the Cody Bellinger domino has dropped. The 29-year-old was a trade candidate the moment he exercised his $27.5 million player option for 2025, a figure slightly too rich for the Cubs to stomach. The Yankees weren’t interested in footing the entire bill for Bellinger, either, as Chicago is sending cash to New York to complete this deal.

Bellinger was a solid performer in his two seasons as a Cub — an improvement over his later years with the Dodgers — but with the emergence of Pete Crow-Armstrong as a centerfield option, Bellinger’s valued decreased. That doesn’t take anything away from the player he is, though, as Bellinger still hit .266 with 18 home runs and 78 RBIs last season, good for 2.2 WAR. Reliever Cody Poteet won’t alleviate the loss of Bellinger, but Chicago at least receives some financial relief.

The Yankees were a rumored destination for Bellinger for weeks, factoring in their need for the type of player and financial flexibility. New York’s newest acquisition isn’t a Juan Soto replacement, but Bellinger will take some pressure off Aaron Judge in the club’s lineup.

It’s difficult to fairly evaluate this transaction without knowing exactly how much cash Chicago is sending to New York, but in MLB — a salary cap-less league — the franchise that acquires more talent is typically the one that makes out better in a specific deal.

Cubs Grade: C-

Yankees Grade: B+