With or without Juan Soto, Cody Bellinger should be part of Yankees plans

Whether the Yankees sign Juan Soto or don’t, they should try to obtain Cody Bellinger from the Cubs. 

If the Yankees have Soto, they will attempt thrift at first base (Ben Rice) and/or left field (Jasson Dominguez). That Bellinger can play those positions would provide the Yankees coverage in not having to trust both inexperienced players on a championship-or-bust team. 

If the Yankees don’t have Soto, Bellinger can be a lefty-swinging part of a Plan B with, say, Christian Walker at first base and then bigger dollars spent on either Corbin Burnes for the rotation or Willy Adames at third, with the idea that the totality could cover losing Soto’s hitting genius. Bellinger’s defense might be down from his prime, but he is still better in center field than Aaron Judge, who can therefore return to right. 

The Cubs are determined to trade either Bellinger (due $27.5 million in 2025 with a $25 million player option in 2026 or $5 million buyout), or Seiya Suzuki (two years at $36 million) to reallocate that money elsewhere, a source familiar with Chicago’s thinking told The Post.