Cody Bellinger won’t be fixing the Yankees’ outfield woes.
The red-hot Chicago Cubs, winners of eight straight games and three games back of the third NL wild-card spot, are telling teams they will not trade Bellinger, according to ESPN.
The Cubs (53-51) seemed like they would be sellers not that long ago when they were well under .500 and it made sense to potentially trade Bellinger, who has a $12.5 million mutual option or $5 million buyout for 2024.
The Post’s Jon Heyman reported Friday that the Cubs were rethinking their earlier inclination to sell and Chicago has won two more games since.
The Yankees seemed like a natural trade partner since they are in desperate need of a left fielder, and there had been plenty of rumors linking the teams.
Bellinger is having a resurgent year, can play multiple outfield positions and his lefty bat would help diversify a Yankees’ lineup that is too reliant on righties.
But eight straight wins have the Cubs firmly in the playoff picture and just 3 ½ games behind the NL Central-leading Brewers.
Chicago is the only NL Central team with a positive run differential, and Bellinger, a former NL MVP with the Los Angeles Dodgers, is a large reason why the Cubbies are in the mix.
Bellinger, 28, is hitting .315 with a .368 on-base percentage, .540 slugging percentage and .908 OPS.
He has 15 homers and 46 RBIs, along with 12 stolen bases.
He also is worth three outs above average in the outfield, according to fangraphs.com.
The Yankees and Cubs have a solid relationship and, just one year ago, completed a trade sending reliever Scott Effross to The Bronx in exchange for pitching prospect Hayden Wesneski.
The Bronx Bombers’ search for an upgrade before the Aug. 1 deadline could now center on options like Colorado Rockies outfielder Randal Grichuk or Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas.
Neither player, though, has the upside nor the pedigree of Bellinger and both are righties, which wouldn’t help the Yankees’ need for more lefty power hitters.
The Yankees enter Sunday’s rubber match with the Orioles with a .234/.310/.425/.735 slashline from their left fielders this season, with their .735 OPS ranking 19th.