The Yankees made a significant trade on Tuesday when they acquired former MVP Cody Bellinger. This move sent right-handed pitcher Cody Poteet to the Cubs. Pinstripe Alley is here to provide in-depth breakdowns and analysis of this trade, but let's also explore what the rest of the baseball media had to say.

Unraveling the Yankees' Trades and Their Impact

Trade Details and Background

This Bellinger rumor has been making waves for quite some time. Joel Sherman reported a few weeks ago that the Cubs were determined to trade Bellinger. The uniqueness of the MLB offseason means that trades and signings are sporadic, and a rumor from two weeks ago can quickly turn into a major deal. And that's exactly what happened on Tuesday.Jeff Passan from ESPN reported that OF/1B Cody Bellinger has been traded from the Chicago Cubs to the New York Yankees. Bellinger, 29, is a former MVP with two years remaining on his contract and an opt-out option after 2025. The Yankees continue to be aggressive in their offseason moves following the Juan Soto trade.Jack Curry also added more details about the trade, giving us a perspective on the Cubs' minimal return. Since the Yankees were willing to take on a large portion of Bellinger's salary, they didn't have to trade a top prospect. Instead, they sent Poteet to the Cubs and the Cubs kicked in $5M. This was a smart move for the Yankees as they build their 2025 lineup.

Contract and Motivations

On The Athletic, Chris Kirschner and Ken Rosenthal provided an in-depth breakdown, highlighting Bellinger's contract as a main reason for the Cubs to move on. The article also mentioned comments made by Bellinger's agent, Scott Boras, at the Winter Meetings, suggesting that a trade was likely. A key point is how Bellinger's versatility can benefit the Yankees, and his bat will be an upgrade regardless of the position he plays.However, not everyone is convinced that this trade addresses the Yankees' lineup issues. Keith Law at The Athletic expressed concern that the trade may force the Yankees to move Jasson Domínguez out of his best position and doesn't address the biggest concern of the lineup - getting men on base.

Interviews and Insights

The Max Fried introductory press conference gave the media an opportunity to get quotes and reactions from Cashman and Boone. Brian Cashman mentioned that he had been hearing about Bellinger's interest in the Yankees for a long time, including from his agent Scott Boras, who said Bellinger was eager to join the team.Bryan Hoch reported an interesting insight from those interviews. Cashman said, "I've been hearing it for a long time, including his agent Scott Boras saying, 'Can you get him over here? He's driving me crazy. He wants to be a Yankee.'"Hoch also provided a full breakdown of the interviews for MLB.com, including Boone's response to a previous report that the Yankees had already told Bellinger he would play center field. Boone called the report "fake news." Cashman also emphasized Bellinger's flexibility, which is a selling point for many in the media.

Reactions and Comparisons

Matt Vasgersian and Harold Reynolds loved the move for the Yankees on MLB Network's 'Hot Stove'. They compared the current Yankees lineup to the one that played in World Series Game 5, highlighting how this trade could impact the team.For the Cubs, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic gave a "wait-and-see" perspective. He discussed how the allocation of resources freed up by the Bellinger contract will determine how the trade is viewed. Signing or trading for another starting pitcher seems to be the next likely move for the Cubs.There is also a human element to this trade. Cody's father, Clay, played with the Yankees from 1999-2001 and won two World Series titles. Christian Arnold of the New York Post touched on this father-son story, providing a brief history lesson on other father-son duos who played for the Yankees.Yankees fans will have to wait and see what other storylines emerge in this busy offseason.