Sep 24, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger (24) hits a single against the Philadelphia Phillies in the eighth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

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Cody Bellinger expects Yankees’ lineup to dominate this season

Bellinger expects big things with Judge and Goldschmidt.

Cody Bellinger walked into Yankees’ spring training with a spark. It wasn’t just the new faces or the anticipation of the season. It was the hunger—the drive to win that he saw in every corner of the clubhouse.

“I think the thing that I see is the want to be good, the desire to be good in each and every one of us,” Bellinger said during his first press conference of the spring.

“We all want to be excellent and that goes a long way. We all want to perform to our best capability. The want and the hunger is there to be great. That speaks for itself. I’ll bet on these guys in the locker room, great character and great baseball players, that we’re all gonna figure it out and it’s gonna be a fun, fun year.”

FIRST LOOK: Cody Bellinger, Max Fried, Devin Williams, and Paul Goldschmidt as New York Yankees pic.twitter.com/mEDYcnpl3W
— MLB (@MLB) February 18, 2025

Cody Bellinger isn’t here to coast. He’s here to win. And he’s surrounded by players who share that mentality, led by captain Aaron Judge. This isn’t just hype. This is serious. The Yankees fell short last year, but the fire is still burning. The roster has been revamped. Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt are the new faces meant to carry this team to the World Series.

But there’s pressure. Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt were the only significant offensive additions after the Yankees lost Juan Soto. Expectations are high, and there’s no room for excuses. Both Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt have MVPs under their belts, but recent seasons have been underwhelming. This is their shot at redemption.

Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt know they must fill Juan Soto’s shoes (and then some)

Cody Bellinger knows what he signed up for. Replacing a player like Juan Soto is impossible. But the Yankees aren’t asking him to be Juan Soto. They’re asking him to be himself, at his best.

“Well, first off, Soto is Juan Soto, a generational talent,” Bellinger said. “26 years old, on the trajectory he’s at, a future Hall of Famer. For me and Paul, it’s [not necessarily] replacing anybody, but coming in and performing to our best capability. We know what our best capability is. If we reach those levels, then I think that it could be fun. Every single day I know for myself and I know for Paul as well, we strive for that. We strive to be excellent, strive to be great. And that’s what we work for every single day.”

It’s simple. Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt know their value. They’ve been MVPs before. But they’re not coming off MVP seasons. They’re coming off good but not great performances. If they were still playing at MVP levels, Cody Bellinger wouldn’t have been traded for Cody Poteet and cash, and Paul Goldschmidt wouldn’t have signed for $12.5 million.

Cody Bellinger hit .266/.325/.426 with 18 homers and 78 RBIs last season with the Chicago Cubs. Paul Goldschmidt struggled, hitting .245/.302/.414 for the St. Louis Cardinals. Those numbers aren’t bad, but they’re not enough. Not for the Yankees. Not in the Bronx, where every at-bat matters.

“Cody Bellinger is washed”
Explain this then 🤡 https://t.co/x5dV2itX4V pic.twitter.com/l68SqkYLiF
— JL (@JLas43_) February 1, 2025

The Yankees need more. And they’re banking on Aaron Judge’s presence to help. Aaron Judge is a cheat code. His mere presence in the lineup changes how pitchers approach the game. Cody Bellinger could hit before Aaron Judge, setting the table. Or he could hit behind him, feasting on pitchers who don’t want to challenge Aaron Judge. Either way, Cody Bellinger is in a prime position to succeed.

“Wherever they think is the best possibility for the lineup to be the most fluid or the most consistent,” Bellinger said. “Whatever it is. Two, three, four, wherever, it doesn’t matter to me. Judge is one of the best players in the game. He’s consistent, powerful, he’s dangerous. The guys around him, you benefit from him just because of how spectacular of a player he is.”

That’s the mindset. Flexible. Confident. Focused on winning. Cody Bellinger isn’t trying to be the hero. He’s trying to play his role, whatever that may be, to perfection. And that’s what makes this Yankees lineup dangerous.

This isn’t just about talent. It’s about chemistry. Cody Bellinger is the perfect piece to complement Aaron Judge and Paul Goldschmidt. A lefty power hitter in Yankee Stadium with its short right field? It’s almost unfair. Add Paul Goldschmidt’s veteran presence and ability to hit to all fields, and you have a lineup that can hurt you in every way possible.

This Yankees team isn’t just chasing another playoff berth. They’re hunting for a World Series ring. And Cody Bellinger knows that better than anyone.

(Image: Imagn Images)

Cody Bellinger

New York Yankees

Natasha Bose

I write about sports because, well, it brings in the big bucks! I’m not some lifelong analyst or stats guru, truth being told, you’ve probably never heard of me!—I just know how to research, write, and make things sound good. That’s the job!
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