NEW YORK - The memories are a little vague, but Cody Bellinger was present for part of the last Yankees' dynasty.
Bellinger was a little kid, running around the previous Yankee Stadium and playing with Andy Pettitte's sons when his father, Clay, was a utility player from 1999-2001 on three pennant-winning Yankee teams.
"My parents did a good job of bringing the camcorder around when I was younger,'' Cody Bellinger said. Through those home videos, "that's how I remember it, but I still have some very solid memories of it.''
Soon, Cody Bellinger can start creating some new Bronx memories as a key part of the Yankees' revamped lineup - still under construction in the immediate Post Juan Soto period.
"I'm just glad it was all able to work out,'' Bellinger said of Tuesday's trade that sent him from the Chicago Cubs to the Yankees, with $5 million, in exchange for pitcher Cody Poteet.
In recent weeks, Bellinger had peppered agent Scott Boras with inquiries about the possibility of being traded to the Yankees, with an obvious need for a potent lefty hitter.
Now that he's in pinstripes, "everything about it excites me,'' Bellinger said Thursday. "The organization, the fans, the Stadium, the atmosphere.''
Bellinger has only played one series at the Stadium, going 3-for-10 with a homer off Carlos Rodon during the Cubs' visit in July 2023.
Even then, there was speculation that Bellinger could be a Yankee by the MLB trade deadline.
But this winter, Bellinger was an obvious fit for the Yankees' lineup and a clear trade candidate, especially after the Cubs landed lefty-hitting star outfielder Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros.
Bellinger, 29, said Cubs' president Jed Hoyer was open and honest about his status; Bellinger had exercised his 2025 player option at $27.5 million, with a $25 million option (or $5 million buyout) for 2026.
"Bellinger is a very good fit (that) allows us a lot of flexibility,'' said Yankees GM Brian Cashman, leaving open the possibility that Bellinger could play left field, center field or first base regularly.
But there's "more lifting to do'' this offseason, with the Yankees ideally searching for an impact right-handed hitting first baseman that would allow Bellinger to play left or center, with Jasson Dominguez at one of the other spots, and with Aaron Judge back in right field.
Bellinger offers plus defense at left and at first base, with "a swing that's built for Yankee Stadium,'' said Cashman. "He's a good baseball player and someone that wants to be here. I've been hearing it for a long time.''
Bellinger told manager Aaron Boone that he'd "play wherever,'' having adopted ex-teammate Enrique Hernandez's flexible philosophy.
"If Judge gets a DH day, I'll play right. Or if you need me at first base, I'll play first,'' said Bellinger. "I enjoy doing that stuff. It helps the team. Wherever they need me, I'm available.''
If he has a big year in '25, Bellinger can vault back into the free agent market, and "I'm very confident where I'm at right now,'' said Bellinger, the 2019 NL MVP with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"I know how good I can be and that's' what I strive for...it keeps me motivated,'' said Bellinger, who followed up a solid 2023 season in Chicago (.881 OPS, 26 HR, 97 RBI) with a .751 OPS, 18 homers and 78 RBI in 2024, playing 130 games each year.
Since undergoing right shoulder surgery after the 2020 season, Bellinger has a .724 OPS with 73 homers in 499 games.Before the shoulder injury, Bellinger posted a .911 OPS with 123 homers in 506 games from 2017-2020.
"That's what keeps me motivated,'' said Bellinger. "I know what I've done, that's what I strive for every single year...I expect that out of myself. That's what I want.''
He'd also like another World Series ring, to go with his 2020 Dodgers ring and to match the two his father won with the 1999 and 2000 Yankees.
"He plays it all cool, but I know deep down he's really excited,'' Bellinger said of calling his dad with the trade news.