Aaron Boone DISMISSES reports of Cody Bellinger playing in center field following trade to NY Yankees

New York Yankees coach Aaron Boone has called the reports of Cody Bellinger moving straight to center field "fake news".

Aaron Boone DISMISSES reports of Cody Bellinger playing in center field following trade to NY Yankees

Aaron Boone (L) and Cody Bellinger (R) [Image via Imago/Audacy]

On Tuesday, the New York Yankees completed another blockbuster trade during this offseason. The team landed former National League MVP Cody Bellinger from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for pitcher Cody Poteet. While the coach of the Yankees, Aaron Boone is pleased with this move, he has dismissed reports of Bellinger playing in the center field.

As per reports, the Yankees had told Bellinger that he would play in the center field once he joined them. Apart from the first base, center field is one position that the ex-Los Angeles Dodgers had played before.

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However, Boone has denied this talk. As per MLB insider Bryan Hoch, the Yankees coach has called the reports of Bellinger being told that he will be playing in center field as “fake news“. For now, the 29-year-out has the left field, center field, and first base as options for the future.

A move to the center field would have allowed Aaron Judge to go back to left field. The Yankees captain played in center field during the 2024 season.

The Yankees are reportedly in talks with several top free agents first basemen. Players such as Christian Walker, Pete Alonso, Carlos Santana, and Paul Goldschmidt have all been linked to them. If they are unable to sign anyone of them, Bellinger could take up the first base position in the 2025 season.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman comments on Cody Bellinger’s interest to join them

During the introductory press conference of Max Fried on Wednesday, New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman was asked to comment on the Cody Bellinger trade as well. The GM claimed that the two-time All-Star had driven his agent, Scott Boras ‘crazy’ by expressing his interest in the American League side.

Brian Cashman and Cody Bellinger
Brian Cashman (L) and Cody Bellinger (R) [Image via Fox News/MLB]

The trade talks of Bellinger between the Yankees and the Cubs started after the Bronx Bombers went into an aggressive mode. After losing Juan Soto in the free agency, the team pulled out Plan B and focused on making some other areas stronger.

The team was reported to be interested in bringing in Kyle Tucker. However, after losing him out to the Cubs, they started pursuing Bellinger. Cashman spoke about Bellinger interest in joining them and claimed he had been hearing this for a long time.

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.

Brian Cashman said as per Bryan Hoch

On Wednesday, Bellinger took to his Instagram account and expressed his excitement to wear the “pinstripes” of the Yankees.

Honored to wear the pinstripes, ready and excited to get to work!! Let’s goooooo

Cody Bellinger on Instagram

Bellinger has now followed the footsteps of his father with his move to the Yankees. His father, Clay Bellinger, was part of the franchise from 1999 to 2001 and won two World Series rings with them. He would now be hoping to replicate this feat as the Bronx Bombers hope to do one better than the 2024 campaign.