Yankees free agent can fit multiple fingers on the NY Mets roster glove

The New York Mets have a couple of holes to fill in their lineup this offseason. Center field was a trouble spot for the team all year, as David Stearns' original plan of a defensive-minded pairing of Tyrone Taylor and Jose Siri fell flat. Siri spent most of the year on the IL before being DFA'd during the season's final week. Taylor's bat regressed to the point where his glove could no longer offset it, producing very little value overall.

The deadline deal for Cedric Mullins was a disaster, ensuring that the free agent will be looking for employment elsewhere. A quick look at the free agent market shows the top center field options aren't far away, with both having just wrapped up their seasons in the Bronx.

Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger both manned center for the New York Yankees at different parts of the 2025 season. Grisham clocked 34 dingers in a breakout campaign, and Bellinger wasn't far behind with 29 long balls of his own. While on the surface, both seem to be fits for the Mets, only one is worth their pursuit.

Between Yankees outfielders Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham, the Mets' preferred choice should be clear

The career arcs of both Bellinger and Grisham are pretty far out of the ordinary. Bellinger was the NL Rookie of the Year in 2017. Two years later, he'd win the NL MVP. Three years later, he'd be non-tendered by the Los Angeles Dodgers. From there, he'd have a great year, followed by an average one in Chicago with the Cubs, and then finally landed with the Yankees as a completely reinvented hitter.

Grisham was a first-round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers who debuted in 2019 with an uneven performance, as most rookies do. He was then traded to the San Diego Padres, where he showed some offensive prowess that, when combined with his defensive prowess, hinted at a compelling package. After a 2.4 fWAR season in 2020 and a 2.6 fWAR follow-up in 2021, Grisham put up three straight seasons with the bat that would make Tyrone Taylor blush.

He was a throw-in in the Juan Soto trade to the Yankees, but in 2025 had a breakout, finding previously unseen power as well as incredible patience with a 14.1% walk rate.

However, while on the surface both seem like good fits, only one truly is, and that is Cody Bellinger. First, let's look at Bellinger versus Grisham. While both are coming off good years, Bellinger's established track record, despite some ups and downs, makes him a much better bet than Grisham.

Furthermore, Bellinger is a plus defender in center and a plus baserunner. Grisham has two gold gloves in his past, but posted -11 defensive runs saved in 1133 innings in center this past season. On the bases, Grisham was a negative as well, posting -3 baserunning run value. Given that Stearns prefers athletic players in center, Bellinger is far and away the better option.

There's another reason, too, though, and it has to do with Pete Alonso. With Alonso opting out and potentially pricing himself out of what the Mets are willing to pay, the club will search high and low for alternatives. By the same token, the Mets will need to run a payroll in the neighborhood of the 2025 club's expenditure in order to remain competitive.

That's where Bellinger's other big advantage comes into play — his versatility. In addition to playing all three outfield positions at a high level, Bellinger also plays a mean first base. That means he could solve the Alonso conundrum, at least in the short term.

The Mets' next wave of top prospects will be coming up soon, and center field and first base may be covered when they arrive. Carson Benge (and possibly Jett Williams) could be the heir apparent in center. Ryan Clifford could be the same at first base.

For a team with expectations like the Mets have, no prospect will simply be handed a starting job, but if, at a given point in time, they force the issue, having positional flexibility to get the best nine in the lineup every day is a huge gift.

And for that reason, Bellinger fits like a glove. He can spell Soto in right when needed, while doing the same for Brandon Nimmo in left. He can play a solid center field, which is necessary with those two on the flanks. But he can also play first and do all the little things that add up to make a big impact.

If the Mets target a Yankees outfielder, it needs to be Cody Bellinger.