A strong argument can be made that the Yankees’ strongest unit this past season was its outfield. They led all of baseball with 8.2 Wins Above Average, buoyed of course by Aaron Judge’s 5.6. But the outfield corps
lost two-thirds of its starters when free agency began yesterday, with Cody Bellinger opting out of his deal and Trent Grisham reaching the end of his arbitration years. For a team that projects to bring back all members of its postseason rotation and primary starting infield as well as its closer, the outfield presents the most urgent area of need.
It’s a repeat of last offseason, when the Yankees’ top priority was to retain Juan Soto. After they failed to do so, they pivoted to Bellinger and, while there’s no replacing Soto’s all-world bat, Bellinger played at an All-Star level on both sides of the ball. So, too, did Grisham, a pleasant surprise after the veteran spent the 2024 season as a fourth outfielder. The duo combined for 8.2 fWAR, forming an excellent outfield pairing even before factoring in Judge’s 10.1.
In their absence, the Yankees’ first option would be to lean into the youth movement. After entering the season as a favorite to take home the AL Rookie of the Year, Jasson Domínguez disappointed. His defense in left, a primary reason he took a backseat in the 2024 playoffs, was a liability again as the Martian posted -10 Outs Above Average — only two AL outfielders fared worse. With the bat, he performed around league average overall (101 OPS+). That obscures a notable trend, though, as the switch-hitter raked from the left side of the plate, slashing .274/.348/.420, while struggling mightily against lefties. It’s certainly plausible that he could take a step forward with the glove next year in his age-23 season and, if he continues to crush lefties, could have the type of breakout that was expected from him this year.
In center, the in-house option is Spencer Jones. The former top prospect had a mammoth year at the plate last season. Between Double-A and Triple-A, he hit 35 homers in just 116 games while swiping 29 bases for good measure. As has been the case throughout his minor-league career, the bugaboo was swing-and-miss. The 24-year-old struck out 179 times, just one behind Edwin Ríos for the minors’ lead.
Both Domínguez and Jones are chock full of talent. Counting on one of them to contribute next year is reasonable. But expecting both to be starters would not only be unrealistic, it would doom the 2026 Yankees to be inferior to the 2024 and 2025 models. GM Brian Cashman hinted as much, giving Domínguez a vote of confidence as the everyday left fielder in waiting but refraining to do the same for Jones. “It all depends on how many opportunities exist based on the decisions that come our way this winter,” he said enigmatically in a press conference after the Yankees’ elimination. “But he’s put himself in the position to be considered a potential everyday major leaguer in 2026, but we’ll see.”
The Yankees need to add in center. The big question — who should they prioritize? The ideal fit would be an elite hitter who can play an elite center field. Easier said than done. The closest player to that description who is expected to be on the market may be Boston’s Jarren Duran, who’s been one of the best all-around center fielders in baseball since breaking out and finishing top-10 in MVP voting in 2024. The Red Sox, with Ceddanne Rafaela, Roman Anthony, and Wilyer Abreu poised to form an elite outfield for years to come, are expected to listen to offers on Duran. But don’t expect them to listen too closely to the Yankees, to whom they’d be loathe to gift-wrap a star player who won’t be eligible for free agency until 2029.
That leaves free agency. As The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner eloquently argued last week, Kyle Tucker is clearly the best hitting outfielder on the market. But he’s played only five games in center in his eight seasons and will be limited to the corners wherever he signs. Bellinger has much more experience in center but, while he graded out as elite at both outfield corners last year, the veteran was below average by both Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Average last year. It’s hard to imagine the Yankees moving Judge back to center for an extended period at this stage of his career, meaning either Domínguez or an outside option would need to man the position next year (assuming they don’t throw in the proverbial towel and hand the reins to both Domínguez and Jones). The team’s best solution may be to acquire both Tucker or Bellinger and a glove-first center fielder, hoping to recreate the magic of their 2025 outfield. Grisham took a big step back in center field this year, making him a tenuous solution at the position going forward. Free agent Harrison Bader and White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. — who is expected to be available via trade or could land on the free agent market if Chicago declines their club option on him — would be more interesting options as reliable fielders with offensive upside to form a four-outfielder rotation with Judge, either Tucker or Bellinger, and Domínguez.
Whatever route the Yankees take, they will need to prioritizing adding at least one, if not two, outfielders this offseason. If they can bring aboard one of the big fish in free agency, they should be in good stead. If not, they may be left holding the bag as 2025’s top offense takes a crucial step back.
