Cody Bellinger may be in the middle of a solid season, but it is also time to talk about his playing future. There is a chance he won’t stay in New York for too long. His $25 million player option for next season gives him the choice to either opt in and continue playing with the Yankees or opt out and become a free agent.

“I’m very adaptable,” Bellinger said last week, explaining he wants to play with a team that wins. Plus, he knew the New York team would be a good stop in his career because his dad, Clay, was a reserve outfielder during their 1999-2001 ballclubs. And this season, so far, has been everything he expected. He loves the team. He loves playing with Judge. And he loves playing at Yankee Stadium. But even if he wants to extend his stay in New York, two young players might be blocking his way…

Analyst Chris Gallagher pointed out on the Yankees Digest, “The Yankees have to show Bellinger that they’re committed to winning. So Bellinger decides to be committed to the Yankees as long as the Yankees are willing to pay him. Now, again, with Spencer Jones coming in and with Jasson Domínguez being young, there is a question mark as to if the Yankees are actually going to be willing to pay him.

“Also, there is a world where Bellinger does take that option, but I highly doubt it. He’s going to try to get a long-term deal after his best season since his MVP year, and that’s the right thing to do if you’re Cody Bellinger. You got to respect that choice. And it does come down to what is going to happen with the Yankees and Bellinger moving forward.”

He is currently making $27.5 million, and next year he could play on a $25 million player option. His market value was projected at six years, $131.5 million by Sportrac projects. That’ll make an average of $21.92 million per season. It’s still uncertain if the Yankees and manager Aaron Boone are willing to pay him. But Bellinger doesn’t seem very concerned about the future.

Last month, when the media asked him about the situation, he stated, “I’m thinking about today, obviously tomorrow, the All-Star break, and that’s really it. It’s very cliché, but I really focus on the day-to-day, and I control what I can control that day. That’s all I think about.” So while he provided no additional clarity, what we do know is that since joining the Yankees, he has thrived.

At the time of writing, he has a hitting line of .264, .799 OPS, 22 home runs, and 71 RBIs.

Could Cody Bellinger make a dramatic cross-town move in the offseason?

Yes! It’s a Juan Soto-like nightmare for the Yankees. Jon Heyman from the New York Post believes that Bellinger has performed well this year, and that could be why he will opt out. Although Bellinger has time and again expressed his love for the Bronx and the Yankees, the crosstown rivals like him. According to Heyman, the Mets’ execs are looking for defense and versatility, and Bellinger has it, plus he is above average at four positions.

When the Mets stole Juan Soto in the last off-season, they learned a lesson: the importance of having a stellar defensive center fielder by his side. Throughout the season, center field has been a problem for the Mets. Lately, the glove-first Tyrone Taylor has struggled to produce any semblance of offense. It prompted the Mets to trade for Cedric Mullins at this deadline. Moreover, the Mets might also have another opening to fill.

Pete Alonso, the homegrown star, is expected to opt out and test the free agency market this time. All of that combined means that the Mets could try to bring in Bellinger to stabilize center field. What do you think?