When facing an opt-out decision entering the offseason, Cody Bellinger had to weigh remaining in a place he seemed to enjoy, without risking the rigors of the offseason, against testing the market - possibly returning, possibly not. Yankees fans, no strangers to capitalism, were completely unsurprised when he dissolved his contract and entered the market.
New York is likely the favorite to bring him back, but it's going to take a while. Of course it will. This is how the market works these days. The power of friendship never overcomes the almighty dollar. Hell, even Gerrit Cole briefly shredded his contract last offseason before the Yankees whispered to him and he erased that choice.