Cody Bellinger is on the move.
The 2019 Major League Baseball MVP was changed to New York Yankees for the Chicago Cubs on Thursday night, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported. Right-handed reliever Cody Poteet will go to the Cubs as part of the deal.
The move comes after the Cubs acquired Kyle Tucker in a trade with the Houston Astros, which essentially took Bellinger out of Chicago.
Bellinger was reported to play center field, meaning Aaron Judge will return to right field.
- BETTING: Check out our MA Sports Betting Guidewhere you can learn basic terminology, definitions and how to read the odds for those interested in learning how to bet in Massachusetts.
The Yankees continue to be aggressive after losing Juan Soto at New York Mets before this offseason. Bellinger has two years left on his current deal with an opt-out after the 2025 season. The 29-year-old gives the Yankees a solid left-handed bat in a lineup that already includes Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.
A dislocated shoulder in 2020 while hitting his game-winning home run in Game 7 of the 2020 National League Championship Series for the Dodgers led to a sidelined 2021. Bellinger played in just 95 games and batted .165. He improved a bit in 2022, but the Dodgers decided not to tender him.
The Cubs took a chance on Bellinger and were rewarded when he slashed .307/.356/.525 en route to the NL Player of the Year Award.
Bellinger spent the last two seasons with the Cubs where he batted .286 with 44 home runs and 175 RBI.