Yankees Target Cody Bellinger in Trade Talks

The New York Yankees are aggressively pursuing improvements this offseason, particularly eyeing Cody Bellinger from the Chicago Cubs for his versatility as both a center fielder and first baseman, despite his high salary of $27.5 million and injury concerns. Additionally, they are considering a trade for Oakland Athletics closer Mason Miller to bolster their bullpen after reaching the World Series but falling short against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Meanwhile, the Athletics are focused on becoming a .500 team by 2025 but are struggling to acquire talent, potentially targeting former Yankees reliever Clay Holmes, who boasts a strong ground ball rate, which is advantageous given their minor-league park conditions. The Miami Marlins reflect on one of their worst trades involving Christian Yelich, highlighting the missed opportunities with elite prospects like Ronald Acuña Jr. and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. that could have changed their trajectory. The Yankees' offseason strategy emphasizes significant trades and re-signing key players like Juan Soto to ensure competitiveness. The decisions made during this offseason will be critical for the Yankees and other teams as they navigate their futures in the league.