NEW YORK — The New York Yankees brought back Cody Bellinger on a five-year, $162.5 million contract this week. The move solidified left field and filled a hole in the heart of the batting order. But does it mean the end of Jasson Dominguez’s time in pinstripes?
Not necessarily. Despite the crowded outfield picture, the Yankees appear reluctant to move the 22-year-old switch-hitter in a deal. Multiple MLB insiders have weighed in on the situation. Their assessments suggest the Martian may stick around longer than expected.
Outfield logjam creates roster decisions
The Yankees roster now features Bellinger in left field, Trent Grisham in center and Aaron Judge in right. Giancarlo Stanton occupies the designated hitter slot. That configuration leaves little room for Dominguez or top prospect Spencer Jones to get consistent at-bats.
Jasson Dominguez hit .257 with 10 home runs and 47 RBI in his first full MLB season last year. He added 23 stolen bases but struggled defensively in left field. His inability to hit left-handed pitching also raised concerns. The Yankees benched him during the second half, limiting him to just 110 at-bats after the All-Star break.
General manager Brian Cashman recently acknowledged he considered sending Dominguez to the minors last season.
“He provided the chance for us to run into something off the bench, especially with his speed to go along with Jose Caballero,” Cashman said. “But I still think there’s some upside there.”
Trade speculation swirls around the Martian
MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch reported that the Yankees could move either Dominguez or Jones for bullpen help. Both outfielders lack a clear path to playing time on the current roster. Pitching remains the clearest area of need for the club.
ESPN reporter Jorge Castillo projects Dominguez to be traded before spring training. While the Martian’s speed and bat from the left side make him a viable bench option, his defensive struggles could make him expendable. Castillo suggested bullpen help or a right-handed hitter as areas the Yankees could upgrade by flipping the former top prospect.
Top pitching targets like MacKenzie Gore and Freddy Peralta are now off the table. Gore went to the Rangers while Peralta landed with the Mets. Acquiring Tarik Skubal or Sandy Alcantara seems increasingly unlikely as well.
Why the Yankees may hold onto Dominguez
The most likely outcome still probably has Dominguez sticking around as depth. The Yankees might be glad to have a legitimate outfield starter in house if anyone pops a hamstring or worse in spring training.
In the proper context, Dominguez’s rookie season was not all that bad. His numbers are actually pretty typical of a young player adjusting to the majors. The Yankees protected him from trade talks for years during his time as a top prospect. To cut bait now after all the time spent developing him would be short-sighted in most deals.
There are future roster considerations to keep in mind as well. Grisham is only under contract for one year after accepting the Yankees’ qualifying offer. If he leaves after the season or gets hurt, Dominguez becomes next in line for center field reps. Bellinger can play the position, but as he ages his effectiveness there will wane.
Dominguez also participated in winter ball to gain defensive reps and more swings from the right side of the plate. He turns 23 in February and still has time to develop. The Yankees signed him for a franchise-record $5.1 million as a 16-year-old in 2019. Walking away now would waste years of investment.
Spencer Jones adds another layer of complexity
Jones had been expected to challenge Dominguez for the starting left field job this spring. The 24-year-old belted 35 home runs with a .933 OPS across Double-A and Triple-A last season. He also struck out 179 times in 438 at-bats, a concerning number for a player with MLB aspirations.
With Bellinger’s return, both Dominguez and Spencer Jones could continue to log at-bats in the minors or find opportunities in trades. But the Yankees have been reluctant to move Jones as well. They reportedly offered him in trade packages at the 2025 deadline but have since held off on dealing the first-round pick.
Roster balance remains a concern
Cashman acknowledged concern about the club being too left-handed. Bellinger and Grisham both bat from the left side. The team’s three top catching options, Austin Wells, J.C. Escarra and Ben Rice, are all lefties as well.
The Yankees have been linked to right-handed free agent outfielders Austin Hays and Harrison Bader. But the limited potential playing time would be a drawback. A righty catcher could be in play, though Cashman calls this possibility “probably less of a realistic option” due to the lack of options on the market.
Manager Aaron Boone addressed the roster situation in December.
“You’re always trying to improve your club and improve your team,” Boone said. “But also pause and say, ‘Hey, we’re pretty good here.’ And we’ve got a lot of really good players, and a lot of really good, young core players that emerged on different levels last year.”
The Yankees finished with 94 wins in 2025 but folded in the American League Division Series against the Blue Jays. They are positioned to largely run it back with the same group. Banking on continued development from young players like Dominguez may be part of the plan to improve upon last year’s early playoff exit.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
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