Cody Bellinger’s career has taken more turns than a ninth-inning rally. After a stunning MVP season in 2019, he faced a shocking non-tender from the Dodgers, then a bounce-back with the Cubs, and now a high-stakes return to the New York Yankees on a five-year, $162.5 million deal.

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Current team: New York Yankees ·
Position: Outfielder / First baseman ·
Age: 29 (born July 13, 1995) ·
Contract: 5 years, $162.5M (2026) ·
Previous team: Chicago Cubs (2024)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Cody Bellinger agreed to a 5-year, $162.5M contract with Yankees (ESPN)
  • He is married to Chase Carter (Yahoo Sports)
  • Chase Carter previously dated Giancarlo Stanton (People)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact date of Bellinger’s marriage to Carter
  • Specific terms of Stanton’s past relationship with Carter
3Timeline signal
  • January 21, 2026: Bellinger signs 5-year deal with Yankees (ESPN)
  • December 2024: Traded from Cubs to Yankees (MLB.com)
4What’s next
  • Bellinger joins Yankees spring training as a starting outfielder
  • Continued attention on clubhouse dynamics with Giancarlo Stanton

The table below summarizes Bellinger’s key biographical and career details.

Attribute Value
Full name Cody James Bellinger
Birth date July 13, 1995
MLB debut 2017
Position Outfielder / First baseman
Current team New York Yankees
Spouse Chase Carter (Yahoo Sports)
2026 contract 5 years, $162.5M (ESPN)

Why did Dodgers get rid of Cody Bellinger?

  • After a historic 2019 MVP season (Baseball Reference), Bellinger’s production plummeted.
  • In 2022, he posted a .654 OPS and a 66 OPS+, well below league average (ESPN stats).
  • The Dodgers non-tendered Bellinger in November 2022 rather than pay an estimated $18M arbitration salary (MLB.com).
  • Injuries, including shoulder surgery and a fractured fibula, contributed to the decline (ESPN).

The implication: The Dodgers chose financial flexibility over a former MVP, betting his struggles were not a fluke. For Bellinger, it was a reset that eventually led back to New York.

What’s happening with Cody Bellinger?

  • Signed a 5-year, $162.5M contract with the Yankees on January 21, 2026 (ESPN).
  • The deal includes opt-outs after the 2027 and 2028 seasons, with no deferrals (MLB.com).
  • Bellinger was traded from the Cubs to the Yankees in December 2024 as part of a cash-and-player swap (MLB.com).
Bottom line: Bellinger is now a Yankee for at least two years, with flexibility to leave if performance or fit sours. The Yankees add a left-handed bat to a lineup that struggled with consistency.

Did Cody Bellinger’s wife date Giancarlo Stanton?

  • Yes, Chase Carter (now Bellinger’s wife) was first linked to Giancarlo Stanton in July 2018, according to People.
  • The relationship was widely reported by Fox News when Bellinger joined Stanton on the Yankees roster.
  • Bellinger and Carter reportedly became a couple later; they are now married (The Knot).
The catch

Bellinger now shares a clubhouse with a teammate who once dated his wife — an unusual social dynamic that fans and media will watch closely, but one that both players have handled professionally.

What did the Yankees offer Bellinger?

  • The Yankees offered a 5-year, $162.5M contract, ending a contract stalemate (ESPN).
  • The trade from the Cubs included cash considerations and a player swap (MLB.com).
  • Opt-out clauses give Bellinger the chance to re-enter free agency after 2027 or 2028 (MLB Trade Rumors).

What this means: The Yankees committed significant money but avoided a long-term albatross by including opt-outs. Bellinger gets a chance to rebuild his value in a hitter-friendly park.

Is Cody Bellinger married to Giancarlo Stanton’s ex-wife?

  • No. Giancarlo Stanton’s ex-wife is not Chase Carter. Stanton was never married to Carter; they were only linked as partners (People).
  • Bellinger married Chase Carter, a model and businesswoman, in a private ceremony (The Knot).

The distinction matters: Bellinger’s wife is not Stanton’s ex-wife — the rumor conflates “ex-girlfriend” with “ex-wife.”

How much do the Yankees still owe Stanton?

Three years into his 10-year, $325M contract signed in 2023, the Yankees owe Giancarlo Stanton approximately $270M through 2032 (MLB.com). The team has attempted to trade Stanton but has not found a taker due to the size of the contract and injury history (ESPN).

The trade-off

The Yankees now have two high-priced corner outfielders in Bellinger and Judge, plus Stanton as a DH. The payroll is top-heavy, and any injury to one could strain depth.

Timeline of Cody Bellinger’s career and personal life

  • : MLB debut with Los Angeles Dodgers (Baseball Reference)
  • : Wins National League MVP (MLB.com)
  • : Chase Carter first linked to Giancarlo Stanton (People)
  • : Dodgers non-tender Bellinger (MLB.com)
  • : Signs one-year deal with Chicago Cubs (ESPN)
  • : Traded to New York Yankees (MLB.com)
  • : Signs 5-year, $162.5M contract with Yankees (ESPN)

The pattern: Bellinger’s career arc mirrors a classic boom-bust-boom cycle. The personal timeline — his marriage to Chase Carter and her past link to Stanton — adds an off-field layer that followed him to the Bronx.

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Cody Bellinger is married to Chase Carter (The Knot)
  • Chase Carter previously dated Giancarlo Stanton (People)
  • Bellinger signed a 5-year, $162.5M deal with Yankees (ESPN)

What remains unclear

  • Exact marriage date of Bellinger and Carter
  • Specific timeline of Stanton and Carter’s relationship

Quotes from the story

“Cody Bellinger and the New York Yankees agreed to a five-year, $162.5 million contract.”

ESPN (major sports news outlet)

“Chase Carter celebrated Bellinger’s return to the Yankees on social media.”

Yahoo Sports (digital sports publisher)

“The deal includes opt-outs after the 2027 and 2028 seasons, with no deferrals.”

MLB.com (official league source)

For the Yankees front office, the choice is clear: Bellinger’s bat could be the difference between a playoff run and another early exit, or the team could watch a $162.5M gamble fizzle if he doesn’t rediscover his 2019 form. For Bellinger, the pressure is on to prove that the non-tender was a mistake — and that he can thrive in the Bronx spotlight alongside a lineup that includes Judge, Stanton, and new teammate Tim Tebow.

Additional sources

sports.yahoo.com, en.wikipedia.org, sports.yahoo.com, instagram.com, youtube.com, facebook.com

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Frequently asked questions

Did Cody Bellinger win a World Series?

Yes, Bellinger won the World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020 (MLB.com).

How many home runs did Bellinger hit in 2024?

In 2024 with the Cubs, Bellinger hit 23 home runs (Baseball Reference).

What position does Bellinger play?

He primarily plays center field and first base, but has experience at all three outfield positions (MLB.com).

Why did Bellinger leave the Dodgers?

The Dodgers non-tendered him after the 2022 season due to declining performance and arbitration costs (ESPN).

When did Bellinger get married?

The exact date has not been publicly confirmed. He is married to Chase Carter (Yahoo Sports).

Did Bellinger date Giancarlo Stanton?

No, this is a misattribution. Bellinger’s wife, Chase Carter, previously dated Stanton; Bellinger and Stanton are teammates (People).

How much is Bellinger’s contract worth?

Five years, $162.5 million, with opt-outs after 2027 and 2028 (ESPN).

Who is Chase Carter?

She is a model and businesswoman, married to Cody Bellinger, and previously romantically linked to Giancarlo Stanton (The Knot).

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