By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK — The New York Yankees acquired outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger in a trade with the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, continuing to stock up on high-end talent in the wake of outfielder Juan Soto’s free agent defection to the New York Mets, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. In the deal, the Yankees will receive $5 million to offset Bellinger’s salary – he will make $27.5 million in 2025 and has a player option for $25 million in 2026 – and will send right-hander Cody Poteet to the Cubs. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been officially announced. The 29-year-old Bellinger, whose father Clay helped the Yankees win World Series titles in 1999 and 2000, is in the first of two player option years as part of an $80 million, three-year contract. The two-time All-Star also has a $25 million player option for 2026 with a $5 million buyout that would be payable in equal installments on Jan. 15, 2026, and Jan. 15, 2027. Bellinger batted .266 with 18 homers and 78 RBIs in 130 games this year. He was on the injured list from April 24 to May 7 with a broken right rib. He drove in 33 runs in his last 39 games of the season, but Chicago finished with an 83-79 record. The Yankees’ acquisition of Bellinger follows the free agent signing of left-handed starting pitcher Max Fried and the trade for All-Star closer Devin Williams. Coming off a World Series loss to the Dodgers, the Yankees have spent the week since Soto’s signing fortifying themselves for another run. Bellinger’s versatility fits perfectly to fill holes in New York’s lineup. He is a good defensive center fielder and can either play there or in left field if the Yankees prefer to use rookie Jasson Dominguez in center. He also is a top defensive first baseman, and while Anthony Rizzo’s free agency opened the position, the Yankees could opt for an in-house option in Ben Rice or pursue Pete Alonso or Christian Walker in free agency. Related Articles MLB | Freddie Freeman’s World Series Game 1 walk-off grand slam ball sells for $1.56M at auction MLB | Alexander: Melissa Ludtke recalls her battle for access MLB | Relocation coming for Inland area minor league baseball affiliates in 2026 MLB | Bryce Miller: Padres chatter about Roki Sasaki, the Juan Soto trade, the Jurickson Profar dilemma and more MLB | Dodgers see progress from starting pitchers who ended last season with injuries Bellinger made his major league debut in 2017 and spent his first six seasons with the Dodgers. He was the National League MVP in 2019, batting .305 with 47 homers and 115 RBIs in 156 games. He also helped the Dodgers win the World Series in 2020. He was cut by the Dodgers in November 2022 and signed a $17.5 million, one-year deal with Chicago a month later. He regained his form with the Cubs, hitting a career-best .307 with 26 homers, 97 RBIs and 20 steals in 130 games last season year. Bellinger is a .259 hitter with 196 homers and 597 RBIs in 1,005 games. He turns 30 in July. Poteet, 30, made his major league debut with Miami in 2021, had Tommy John surgery on Aug. 17, 2022, returned to the mound with Kansas City’s Triple-A Omaha farm team on Sept. 23, 2023, was released by the Royals and signed with the Yankees last January. He went 3-0 with a 2.22 ERA in four starts and one relief appearance during a season in which he was sidelined between June 12 and Sept. 25 by a strained right triceps. More to come on this story.