When Aaron Judge speaks, the Yankees listen. Managing partner Hal Steinbrenner made it clear on Tuesday that the Yankees’ decision to acquire Cody Bellinger from the Chicago Cubs was heavily influenced by their franchise cornerstone. The Yankees had been interested in Bellinger as early as the 2024 offseason, but they opted to go after Juan Soto instead, leaving Bellinger to sign a short-term deal with Chicago.
Fast forward a year, and the Yankees saw another opportunity. With the Cubs looking to offload salary after Bellinger’s production dipped, Judge reportedly pushed for the move, seeing the former MVP as a perfect fit in the Bronx.