The 2026 Yankees feel like they have been bouncing from one crisis to the next. On the heels of Cody Bellinger landing on the injured list (though the injury hopefully isn’t too serious), they suddenly find themselves in need of another outfielder, specifically one who can hit left-handed pitching and plug into the middle of the order.
Without Bellinger and Aaron Judge, the Yankees’ outfield looks a bit like a box of misfit toys. Trent Grisham has been steady, but Jasson Domínguez has continued to teeter
on the edge of being an average big leaguer. Spencer Jones has also been less than inspiring, with a batting stance that looks like someone in a Hallmark movie pretending to be a professional baseball player. Super utility man Max Schuemann has held his own, but he is naturally an infielder and does not always look comfortable in the outfield.
Oddly enough, the Yankees’ current outfield actually owns better splits against left-handed pitching than right-handed pitching. Entering Sunday night, Grisham carried a .724 OPS against lefties, Domínguez sat at .740, and Jones, albeit in only 12 at-bats, owned a .774 OPS.
That said, if the Yankees decide they would rather deploy a platoon bat than continue leaning on Schuemann, there is one outfielder who just happens to mash left-handed pitching. According to most around the industry, the Angels are willing to listen on Jo Adell.
So far this season, Adell has posted a .924 OPS in 112 at-bats against southpaws. In 2025, he slashed .277/.346/.585 against lefties compared to .227/.281/.463 against right-handers. It is also worth noting that Adell hit 30 home runs off right-handers last season despite the weaker overall splits against righties, proving the power plays regardless of the matchup.
When it comes to fit, Adell is almost the perfect platoon partner. In many ways, he is what the Yankees hoped Amed Rosario would be against left-handed pitching. If the club wants someone to rotate with Jones for the time being, Adell would make an excellent dance partner.
Defensively, Adell has spent most of this season in right field after splitting his time between right and center in 2025. He is not an elite defender, posting minus-4 Outs Above Average and minus-3 Arm Value this season. However, his 66th-percentile arm strength and 69th-percentile sprint speed suggest he has the physical tools to handle right field at Yankee Stadium, even if the other two outfield spots are less than ideal. Adell is not going to challenge for a gold glove, but he is athletic enough and has a big enough arm to make up for some of his other shortcomings in the field.
Adell also comes with one additional season of team control, making him more than just a rental. That can be viewed as either a positive or a negative. On one hand, the Yankees would have another year to figure out where he fits, potentially using him as a fourth outfielder in 2027. On the other, that extra year of control likely increases the acquisition cost.
The biggest question is what the Angels would actually ask for. Adell is still just 27 years old and will be on a modest contract next season, so Los Angeles has no reason to simply give him away. Factor in the lack of true sellers and the fact that right-handed hitters who mash lefties are always in demand, and Adell is likely to draw interest from several contenders. The Yankees have enough upper-level pitching depth to make that phone call worthwhile, but they will almost certainly have competition.
Adding another bat is very much an immediate need. While Adell may not be the cleanest positional fit, especially once Judge returns, the Yankees simply need offense. Losing Bellinger while Judge is already sidelined created about the worst-case scenario imaginable, and Adell is one of the few available bats whose strengths line up with exactly what the Yankees are missing. If the asking price stays reasonable, this feels like the type of move Brian Cashman has been willing to make at the last several deadlines.
