Yankees news: Dodgers’ Kyle Tucker signing amps up Cody Bellinger pressure

The Athletic | Chris Kirschner ($): Another day, another Cody Bellinger article. Despite recent reports that there were considerable gaps between Belli and the Yankees in terms of contract length and average annual value, Kirschner says “not so fast, my friend,” to quote the great Lee Corso. There are reasons, admittedly, the Yankees could pivot and go after perhaps Kyle Tucker*, but Kirschner ultimately thinks a reunion is what makes the most sense for both sides: “For the Yankees and Bellinger to both get what they want, the most realistic path is a reunion. The Yankees get their No. 1 target, who they know fits their home ballpark, and Bellinger gets a long-term contract.”

*Update: Annnnnd here’s another extra piece of news for the roundup related to Tucker. That man will not be a Yankee and it sounds like they never had interest. The Dodgers—surprise, surprise—swooped in and won the bidding war over the Mets and Blue Jays with a downright comical four-year, $240 million offer. In short, it’s nice that Tucker’s not going to division rival Toronto, though that could make them (or the Mets) more willing to give Bellinger what we wants.

Baseball America | Ben Badler: The international free agency signing period officially opened yesterday. The Yankees’ 2026 class was thrown for a loop a couple months ago when they let go of international scouting director Donny Rowland following several years of disappointing results. Although the decision had its merits, it also led to one of the top names, Wandy Asigen, decommitting and signing with the Mets instead. Still, several Yankees signings still happened (like shortstop Germayhoni Beltre from the Dominican Republic and catcher Kenneth Melendez from Venezuela), and as usual, Baseball America was all over it. You can also check out PSA’s IFA tracker, which Jake and Andrew ran yesterday.

Yahoo Sports | Conor Liguori: For the upcoming World Baseball Classic, Team Italy is quickly turning into a sentimental favorite for Yankees fans. The Italian club has offered former first baseman Anthony Rizzo an invitation to play, former Yankee backstop Francisco Cervelli is managing the club, and now, a bona fide Yankee legend is part of the coaching staff. Jorge Posada, Cervelli’s former teammate and famed member of the Core Four, has joined Team Italy’s coaching staff. I’d imagine so long as Italy doesn’t play Team USA, many a Yankee fans will be rooting for the Italians.

MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: Ben Rice is getting ready for the 2026 season, and in the process, is preparing for more than one position. The lefty slugger has been told to prioritize his work at first base but not to lose the old catcher’s mitt. Whether that means Rice is the club’s backup catcher or the third catcher is up in the air. As of now, Rice, Austin Wells, and J.C. Escarra figure to be the Yanks who don the tools of ignorance, but with all three being lefty bats, it’s not outside the realm of possibility the Yankees make a move prior to Opening Day.

MLB.com | Keegan Matheson: David Weathers won a World Series with the Yankees in 1996. Now, 30 years later, his son will wear pinstripes. New York acquired Ryan Weathers from the Marlins earlier this week in exchange for four organizational prospects. In one of those moments where history rhymes, father and son both came to New York via the Marlins. Ryan, 26, was not even born yet when his old man got his ring. But he sounds pretty excited to follow in his father’s footsteps, offering that “I just couldn’t believe that the New York Yankees were a team that I could ever have a chance to play for.”