After a long winter staring contest between the Yankees and Cody Bellinger‘s camp, the parties finally came together on a five-year agreement. That’s good news for a Yankees lineup that has benefited greatly from Bellinger’s production (125 wRC+, 4.9 fWAR) in 2025, but that news isn’t as exciting for the Yankees’ young players. With Trent Grisham (129 wRC+, 3.2 fWAR) back in town on a qualifying offer, Bellinger’s return means it will be tough for the top pick. Jason Dominguez and high current expectations Spencer Jones push it on the way to the list.
That may not seem like a big concern at first. After all, the Yankees only brought back the same group of outfielders they worked with last year, and playing time wasn’t a concern for Jones or Dominguez at the time. That is an incomplete view of the situation, however. Entering DH Giancarlo Stanton he missed the first half of the season last year with injuries to both elbows, which created enough playing time in the first half of the season for Dominguez. Jones, on the other hand, opened the year in Double-A and wasn’t really on the big league radar until late 2025. By then the trade deadline has passed (Aaron is the judgeA short trip to the injured list though), New York was forced to create and execute Ben Rice behind the plate from time to time to get all their players in the lineup.
While that’s not a bad problem to have, it can be challenging for a young player to develop and succeed at the big league level without consistent playing time. That could spell trouble for Dominguez, whose 2025 campaign saw him post a 103 wRC+ with ten homers, 23 steals, and 0.6 fWAR due to a lack of defense in the outfield. That’s good enough production for a rookie, but not the kind of five-tool star he’s been praised for. Getting close to that ceiling will certainly require more in-game reps, and it’s worth wondering if the team will have enough of that to give him at this point without injury. That’s not even considering Jones, who threw 19 hits in 67 games at Triple-A last year and will be ready for his first taste of big league action sometime this year (if he isn’t already).
With Bellinger, Judge, and Stanton all locked into the outfield/DH mix for years to come while Grisham figures to continue getting regular reps this season, the trade argument is pretty clear. If the Yankees can get a lot of value on the trade market, it would make a lot of sense to upgrade the infield (where Jose Caballero again Ryan McMahon season kick count as a regular on the left side), the barn that lost both Devin Williams again Luke Weaver to the Mets across town, or even the first rotation that will be outside Gerrit Cole again Carlos Rodon to open the year.
That said, it’s unclear how many exciting players are currently available. The Yankees missed Freddy Peralta again Edward Cabrera already. Pablo Lopez again Joe Ryan they are not expected to move as the Twins work toward a championship run this year. Someone who likes Brady Singer is still up for grabs, but it seems unlikely that the Yankees will give up five seasons of Dominguez (never mind Jones) for rental innings. Brendan Donovan he is available, but he is being followed by many groups right now. Unless the Yankees win a bidding war for Donovan or a shocking trade for someone like him Tarik Skubal happens, it’s unclear where the Yankees would look to move Dominguez or Jones without trading low.
Maybe the Yankees would be better off holding on to both minors, at least for now. After all, you can’t imagine that you are playing an open time in the team’s fields. Stanton, Judge, and Bellinger have major injury histories, while Grisham is a bench player as recently as 2024. Bellinger can also handle first base, so there are ways to squeeze another outfielder into the lineup even without seating anyone on that team. Keeping Jones and Dominguez to use as trade chips in July may make sense, as critical needs can arise throughout the season due to injuries or other issues. On the other hand, if the team keeps both players on the roster throughout the first half, Grisham will only have a few months left in free agency. At that point, the team might be better served by simply holding onto both players for the rest of the season.
How do MLBTR readers think the Yankees will deal with a slew of outfielders? Should they try to pull off a trade to ensure Jones or Dominguez aren’t upgraded due to a lack of MLB playing time? Or should they stick to their depth to protect against injury, at least until this summer’s deadline? Have your say in the poll below:
