"But take Judge out of the picture when it comes to the Yankees' MVP this season? It might well be Cody Bellinger. Bellinger, acquired from the Cubs in the offseason for righthander Cody Poteet in what already has gone down as one of the best deals in Brian Cashman's long tenure as general manager, entered Sunday night's game against the Red Sox hitting .278 with 28 homers, 25 doubles, 93 RBIs and an .834 OPS."
"Those numbers included slash lines of .370/.408/.623 (51-for-138) against lefthanded pitching and .354/.408/.598 (45-for-127) with runners in scoring position. Bellinger had the most impressive at-bat of the day in the ninth inning of Saturday's 5-3 victory over the Red Sox. He fell behind power lefty Aroldis Chapman 0-and-2 before battling for seven more pitches, winning the nine-pitch at-bat by lasering a 97-mph fastball off the Green Monster for an RBI double that gave David Bednar a two-run cushion for the bottom of the ninth."
"Lefthander Max Fried, who picked up his 17th win Saturday, faced Bellinger plenty during both players' time in the National League (Fried for the previous eight seasons with Atlanta, Bellinger for six seasons with the Dodgers before two with the Cubs). "He can shorten up and go the other way or he can take you deep pull side," Fried said. "He's two different types of hitters, and you've just got to make pitches and hope he gets himself out.""
Aaron Judge remains the likely 2025 Yankees and AL MVP favorite, but Cody Bellinger has been the club's most impactful complementary performer. Bellinger hit .278 with 28 homers, 25 doubles, 93 RBIs and an .834 OPS after arriving from the Cubs for Cody Poteet. He posted strong splits (.370/.408/.623 vs lefties; .354/.408/.598 with runners in scoring position) and delivered a decisive nine-pitch at-bat for an RBI double against Aroldis Chapman. Teammates praised the at-bat and Max Fried noted Bellinger's ability to hit to all fields. Bellinger has started at all three outfield positions and protected Judge in the lineup.
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