Does the short-term contract approach of Tucker and Bichette affect Bellinger's market?

As Kyle Tucker committed to a four-year, $240 million contract with the Dodgers and Bo Bichette inked a three-year, $126 million deal with the Mets, is it possible that Cody Bellinger will follow suit by signing a short-term, high-value contract with opt-out options to join a new club?

Brendan Kuty, a reporter for The Athletic, examined Bellinger’s market outlook in his latest analysis, comparing it to the contract structures of Tucker and Bichette to evaluate the potential impact.

A return to the New York Yankees remains a strong possibility. According to Kuty, the Yankees have offered Bellinger a deal worth up to five years and $160 million, which includes opt-out clauses after the second and third years. Given that Tucker’s contract includes opt-outs after the second and third years and Bichette’s after the first two years, it’s plausible that Bellinger could receive a similarly structured agreement.

Of course, the Yankees are not the only New York team interested in Bellinger. Will Sammon of The Athletic reports that the Mets remain interested in Bellinger even after signing Bichette. Additionally, the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies, who previously competed for Tucker and Bichette, might also shift their focus to the former NL MVP.