Could Cody Bellinger Be the Mets’ Game-Changer—or Risk They Can’t Afford?

The Mets are navigating what promises to be a whirlwind offseason — and at the heart of it all lies the colossal question mark of Pete Alonso’s future. The slugger, now a free agent for the second straight year, arguably remains the linchpin for filling New York’s glaring power void, making a return to Queens a natural fit. Yet, with Alonso reportedly aiming for a hefty seven-year contract and whispers swirling that his free agency saga might drag on longer than anyone wants, the Mets could find themselves forced to pivot, cutting ties to protect other roster options. Regardless of Alonso’s destination, the Mets’ front office faces the pressing need to inject more firepower into their lineup. Should Alonso depart, the roadmap points to acquiring a couple of game-changing hitters; if he stays, then adding at least one solid bat alongside him is imperative. Financial flexibility is in the offing — thanks to Starling Marte’s $19.5 million payroll vacating and promising internal options like Carson Benge likely stepping into centerfield come spring. Among the prospective targets, versatile players like Cody Bellinger headline the discussion, bringing with them a slew of pros and cons worth unpacking. Strap in — this offseason’s offensive chess game is just beginning.

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As the Mets‘ offseason shakes out, the huge domino that will fall regarding the offense is Pete Alonso.

With Alonso a free agent for the second consecutive year, it can be argued that he is the best fit to fill the Mets’ power need and that Alonso’s most logical landing spot is right back in Queens

But with Alonso reportedly seeking a seven-year deal and his free agency potentially dragging out, New York could be forced to move on without him in order to remove the risk of losing other quality options.

No matter what happens with Alonso, though, the Mets should be looking to add more offense.

If Alonso leaves, New York’s goal should be adding two impact bats.

If Alonso stays, the goal should be adding one other legitimate bat in addition to him.

With Starling Marte‘s $19.5 million off the books and the Mets possibly going internal in center field (with Carson Benge having a chance to win the job out of spring training), they should have the wiggle room to make the aforementioned additions.

Should the versatile Cody Bellinger be near the top of the list?

Here are the pros and cons of signing the outfielder/first baseman…

Jul 29, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Cody Bellinger (35) tosses his bat as he watches his three run home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the third inning at Yankee Stadium. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

PROS

In his age-29 season, Bellinger had his second-best campaign since winning the MVP award in 2019.

Over 656 plate appearances spanning 152 games for the Yankees, Bellinger slashed .272/.334/.480 (125 OPS+) with 29 home runs, 25 doubles, five triples, 98 RBI, and 89 runs scored.

Bellinger also didn’t strike out much. The left-hander fanned only 90 times, continuing a career trend that has spanned from 2019 to now, which was interrupted only during the 2022 season.

And Bellinger continued to show his versatility in 2025 as he started 115 games in right field, 36 games at first base, and 25 in center field. He was a plus defensively while moving all over the field, rating in the 93rd percentile when it comes to Outs Above Average and possessing an elite throwing arm.

Bellinger’s aforementioned strikeout rate was among the best in the majors, while his other advanced offensive stats were a mixed bag. However, with his MVP season being an exception, he has rarely been above average when it comes to hitting the ball hard — and has succeeded at the plate in spite of it.

Meanwhile, Bellinger has repeatedly proven that he can handle playing in a big market.

His MVP season came in Los Angeles with the Dodgers, he had an .881 OPS for the Cubs in 2023, and excelled in 2025 in his first season with the Yanks.

Bellinger has also been a lineup mainstay for most of his career. He played in a career-low 95 games for the Dodgers in 2021 as he battled a bunch of different injuries, but has played between 132 and 162 games in every other season of his nine-year career.

Mar 29, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) hits an RBI single in the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Yankee Stadium. / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

CONS

The Mets signing Bellinger would almost certainly be contingent on one of two things happening — the departure of Alonso or the trade of Brandon Nimmo.

If Alonso returns — and he should be at the top of the Mets’ list of priorities — there could still be room for Bellinger if Nimmo is traded. But there are a few issues there.

The first is that Nimmo has a full no-trade clause, which means he would have to approve any deal. The second is that while Nimmo is still an above average offensive player, his contract (five years remaining at $20.5 million per season) and age (he’ll be 33 years old in March) might mean New York having to pay down some of his deal in a potential trade.

The simplest scenario could be the Mets signing Bellinger to replace Alonso at first base if the latter signs elsewhere, but that would make New York’s lineup even more left-handed and not adequately fill the power void Alonso’s departure would create.

Then there’s the question of how much it will take to sign Bellinger, with a reasonable belief being that his contract will be between five and seven years long.

As someone who is a plus offensive player, a plus defender, and a plus on the bases, it’s hard to argue against that length of contract being fair for Bellinger. But while his struggles in 2021 and 2022 seem like an aberration, there are some underlying concerns regarding Bellinger’s offensive production.

One of those concerns? Bellinger slashed .302/.365/.544 (.909 OPS) at the hitter’s haven that is Yankee Stadium in 2025. On the road, he hit just .241/.301/.414 (.715 OPS).