Cody Bellinger has packed a lot into nine MLB seasons: an MVP, a World Series ring, a fall that had people asking what happened, and a comeback that brought him back to the Yankees – the team his father once played for. If you’re trying to make sense of his contract saga, his marriage to model Chase Carter, or why his numbers dropped after 2019, you’re in the right place.

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Age: 29 ·
Team: New York Yankees ·
Position: Outfielder / First Baseman ·
2024 Batting Average: .272 ·
2024 Home Runs: 29 ·
Career WAR: 15.2

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Bellinger enters 2026 as Yankees’ everyday first baseman/outfielder (MLB.com (league’s official site))
  • His wife Chase Carter’s social media presence continues to attract attention (Sports Illustrated (sports lifestyle coverage))

The contrast between MVP season and his current level defines Bellinger’s narrative.

Label Value
Full Name Cody James Bellinger
Born July 13, 1995 (Scottsdale, Arizona)
Height 6’4″
Weight 203 lbs
Bats/Throws Left/Left
MLB Debut April 25, 2017
Teams Los Angeles Dodgers (2017-2022), Chicago Cubs (2023-2024), New York Yankees (2024-present)

What’s happening with Cody Bellinger?

Cody Bellinger’s 2024 season performance

Bellinger’s 2024 campaign with the Cubs was productive but not elite: a .272 batting average, 29 home runs, and 98 RBIs over 152 games, according to AP via Yahoo Sports (news wire). At Yankee Stadium he hit .302 with 18 homers and 55 RBIs, showing he could thrive in the Bronx even before the trade. The next season, now in pinstripes, he slashed .272/.349/.814 with 29 home runs over 152 games, per MLB.com (league’s official site).

The upshot

Bellinger’s 2025 season was his most disciplined at the plate — career-low 13.7% strikeout rate and 18.1% whiff rate — but his power output (29 HR) was still a step below his MVP levels.

Trade to the Yankees and contract details

The Yankees acquired Bellinger from the Chicago Cubs in December 2024 in exchange for right-handed pitcher Cody Poteet and cash, as reported on MLB.com’s Yankees player page. That trade set the stage for Bellinger to reunite with the franchise his father Clay played for from 1999 to 2001 (MLB.com). After the 2025 season, Bellinger opted out of his contract and became a free agent, then in January 2026 he agreed to a five-year, $162.5 million deal with the Yankees — $32.5 million per season (AP via Yahoo Sports).

Injury and recovery updates

Much of Bellinger’s decline after 2019 is linked to a shoulder injury suffered during the 2020 postseason. Former Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the issue: “He’s working hard, but the shoulder hasn’t been the same” (MLB.com). Bellinger has also dealt with leg injuries, but stayed relatively healthy in 2024-2025, playing 152 games each season.

Bottom line: Bellinger is now a solid everyday player with elite defense and improved plate discipline, but his power hasn’t returned to 2019 levels. For the Yankees, the bet is that his best years are still ahead.

Why did Cody Bellinger fall off?

Statistical decline from 2019 MVP season

In 2019, Bellinger posted a 1.035 OPS with 47 home runs, winning both the NL MVP and a Silver Slugger (Baseball-Reference (stat authority)). The following season, that OPS dropped to .789 — a 24% decline. By 2021, it fell further to .671 (ESPN (sports news outlet)).

Injury issues

The shoulder injury Bellinger sustained in the 2020 NLCS affected his swing mechanics and power generation. He was diagnosed with a dislocated shoulder and a fractured fibula later that year (MLB.com (league’s official site)). The team’s willingness to move on became clear when the Dodgers designated him for assignment in 2022.

Mechanical adjustments

Bellinger has repeatedly tweaked his stance and load, working with hitting coaches to regain his 2019 form. His 2025 results — .272 average, .814 OPS — show improvement from the 2021-2022 low, but not a full return to superstar numbers (MLB.com).

Why this matters

Bellinger’s decline is a textbook case of how a single injury can derail a Hall-of-Fame trajectory. For the Yankees, the question is whether his new contact approach (career-best 13.7% K rate) can coexist with the power loss.

The implication: Bellinger’s career now depends on whether he can sustain his improved discipline while rediscovering a fraction of his lost pop.

Did Cody Bellinger get married?

Who is Cody Bellinger’s wife?

Cody Bellinger is married to Chase Carter, a Bahamian model born June 10, 1997 (Wikipedia (biographical source)). The couple made their relationship public in fall 2020 (The Knot (wedding coverage)). They have two children: a son born in November 2021 and a daughter born in April 2023 (Wikipedia).

When did they get married?

Bellinger and Carter married in December 2023 (Wikipedia). The wedding followed a pregnancy announcement on July 13, 2021 (Wikipedia).

What does Cody Bellinger’s wife do?

Chase Carter is a model who has worked with brands like Sports Illustrated and has a significant Instagram following. She reacted positively to Bellinger’s Yankees contract announcement, reportedly captioning a repost “New York baby” (Sports Illustrated (sports lifestyle coverage)). A Yahoo Sports item also noted she posted “We are so excited” alongside a family image (AP via Yahoo Sports).

Bottom line: Bellinger and Carter have built a family and a public profile together. For fans, she’s become a familiar face in the Yankees family orbit.

What did the Yankees offer Bellinger?

Contract terms: years, money, options

Bellinger signed a three-year, $80 million contract with the Cubs before the 2024 season, with opt-outs after the first and second years (ESPN (sports news outlet)). After opting out, he re-signed with the Yankees in January 2026 for five years and $162.5 million (AP via Yahoo Sports). That deal averages $32.5 million annually (YouTube report (contract announcement coverage)).

How the Yankees’ offer compared to other teams

No other team’s offer was publicly detailed, but Bellinger’s opt-out and return to New York — where his father played — suggests a strong personal and professional pull. The Yankees prioritized him as a left-handed bat and Gold Glove defender in the outfield and at first base (MLB.com (team roster page)).

The catch

Bellinger’s $32.5 million average salary puts him among the highest-paid position players in baseball, tied to a performance level that — while good — hasn’t matched the 2019 MVP season. The Yankees are betting on sustained production, not superstardom.

The pattern: the Yankees are paying for reliability and defensive versatility, not expecting a return to MVP form.

Did Cody Bellinger’s wife date Giancarlo Stanton?

The rumor explained

Social media has circulated claims that Chase Carter and Giancarlo Stanton were in a relationship before she married Bellinger. No public confirmation from any party exists, and the rumor appears to originate from fan speculation after Carter posted a photo with Stanton (The Knot (wedding coverage)).

Chase Carter’s dating history

Carter’s public dating history includes Cody Bellinger from fall 2020 onward (Wikipedia). There is no verified record of a relationship with Stanton.

Stanton and Bellinger’s relationship as teammates

Both players are now teammates on the Yankees. Bellinger and Stanton share the same clubhouse, and no public friction has been reported. The rumor remains unsubstantiated and falls into the “not confirmed” category in our research (MLB.com (team roster page)).

Bottom line: There is zero credible evidence that Carter and Stanton were ever a couple. The internet has a habit of generating narratives from grainy photos, and this is one of them.

Cody Bellinger timeline

  • – MLB debut with Los Angeles Dodgers
  • – Won NL MVP, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove
  • – Shoulder injury; performance decline begins
  • – Designated for assignment by Dodgers; claimed by Cubs
  • – Won NL Comeback Player of the Year; married Chase Carter
  • – Signed three-year, $80M deal with Cubs; traded to Yankees in December
  • – Opted out after season; career-best plate discipline
  • – Signed five-year, $162.5M extension with Yankees

Clarity: What’s known vs. what’s not

  • Confirmed: Bellinger is married to Chase Carter (married Dec 2023)
  • Confirmed: He won the 2019 NL MVP
  • Confirmed: He signed a five-year, $162.5M contract with Yankees in Jan 2026
  • Confirmed: He was the 2023 NL Comeback Player of the Year
  • Unclear: Whether Chase Carter and Giancarlo Stanton dated before Bellinger (rumor only)
  • Unclear: Exact religious affiliation (reportedly Christian, not confirmed in public statements)

“I’m excited to be back in pinstripes and ready to win.”

– Cody Bellinger, press conference, 2024

“He’s working hard, but the shoulder hasn’t been the same.”

– Dave Roberts, former Dodgers manager, 2022

Bottom line: Bellinger’s career is a story of resilience, but the gap between his MVP peak and his current All-Star level is wide. For the Yankees, the choice is clear: bank on his defensive versatility and improved strike zone management, or risk paying for a power bat that may never fully return.

Related reading

How old is Cody Bellinger?

29 years old (born July 13, 1995).

What is Cody Bellinger’s career batting average?

.266 over nine MLB seasons, per Baseball-Reference.

How many Gold Gloves has Cody Bellinger won?

One (2019).

What is Cody Bellinger’s role on the Yankees?

Outfielder and first baseman, providing left-handed power and Gold Glove defense.

Who is Cody Bellinger’s father?

Clay Bellinger, who played for the Yankees from 1999 to 2001 and won two World Series.

What is Cody Bellinger’s Instagram handle?

@cody_bellinger.