Potential SF Giants target reportedly expected to opt out of contract

Free agency could get a little more interesting for the SF Giants. According to Jorge Castillo of ESPN, New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger is expected to opt out of his contract in favor of free agency.

Potential SF Giants target reportedly expected to opt out of contract

Bellinger just concluded the second year of his three-year, $80 million pact that he originally signed with the Chicago Cubs. This deal included opt-outs after the first and second seasons.

The left-handed bat did not have the type of season with the Cubs in 2024 to confidently opt out of his deal and land a larger payday. He was shipped to the Yankees last winter in exchange for reliever Cody Poteet.

At the time, the Cubs had just acquired Kyle Tucker and wanted to offload some money elsewhere. That was one of the motivations for the deal, and landing in New York felt like a good fit for Bellinger.

Not surprisingly, the 30-year-old outfielder thrived in a ballpark that tends to play more favorably for left-handed hitters. He slashed .272/.334/.480 (125 wRC+) with 29 home runs, 98 RBI, and 89 runs in 656 plate appearances. This includes an 8.7 percent walk rate, 13.7 percent strikeout rate, and .207 ISO. While Bellinger has a max effort swing, he does a nice job of putting the ball in play. He also brings value on the bases and in the outfield.

Once Bellinger officially opts out of his contract, he will immediately become one of the top free-agent outfielders. Kyle Tucker is the top option, followed by Bellinger, and then there is a steep drop-off after that.

It is hard to ignore that several qualities Bellinger brings to the table might appeal to the Giants. First, he rejected a qualifying offer from the Cubs after the 2023 season, so he is not eligible for that this time around. The Giants went nearly 10 years without signing a player who had rejected a qualifying offer, then they signed Matt Chapman, Blake Snell, and Willy Adames all within the same calendar year.

Bellinger brings a good combination of power, contact, athleticism, and defense to the table. The Giants' defense was among the worst in baseball this season, but adding Bellinger would raise the floor of that unit.

Interestingly, the nine-year veteran has always hit for a lot of power, but he has never really posted exceptional exit velocity readings. From that standpoint, there is a legitimate question about how his power will play as he ages. That said, Bellinger pulls the ball in the air better than most hitters and has the type of swing that could take advantage of the short porch in right field at Oracle Park.

Cost is going to be a major consideration. Bellinger is represented by Scott Boras, who will undoubtedly look to parlay his strong season into a sizable payday.