NEW YORK — The Yankees have a prospect problem. Not the kind where they lack talent. The kind where they might have too much of it sitting on the bench while the window to win closes fast.
A new trade proposal has Jasson Dominguez heading to Miami for starting pitcher Edward Cabrera. The deal only works if the Yankees can land their top outfield target first. And that target has a familiar name.
Bellinger remains the key to everything. If the Yankees can re-sign the former MVP, Dominguez becomes expendable. If they cannot, the 22-year-old stays put and the rotation remains thin.
The trade proposal that could reshape the roster
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter floated the idea of sending Dominguez to the Marlins for Cabrera. The logic makes sense on paper. New York needs pitching. Miami needs offense. Both sides get what they want.
“Flipping [Dominguez] to an offense-needy team in the Marlins in exchange for Edward Cabrera would fill a spot in the starting rotation to help bridge the gap to Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon returning,” Reuter wrote.
The writer also noted a backup plan. Trade Dominguez to the Reds for Brady Singer or Chase Petty. Either way, the young outfielder becomes the currency to fix the pitching problem.
Why the rotation needs help badly
The Yankees face a serious crunch at the top of their rotation. Cole is still recovering from Tommy John surgery. He underwent the procedure in March 2025 and is expected back in the late spring or early summer.
Rodon also remains out with injury concerns. Clarke Schmidt has no return timeline at all. That leaves Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren and Ryan Yarbrough as the opening day options.
Cabrera would provide immediate depth. The right-hander posted a 3.53 ERA across 26 starts for Miami in 2025. He struck out 150 batters in 137.2 innings. Those numbers represent a career high in wins with eight.
Dominguez struggles in winter ball raise questions
The Martian has not looked like himself lately. Dominguez went to the Dominican Winter League to work on his right-handed swing. The results have been ugly so far.
In 11 games and 46 plate appearances for Leones del Escogido, he is slashing just .184/.306/.263 with zero home runs. That is not what the Yankees hoped to see from their prized prospect.
His 2025 regular season numbers were decent but not dominant. He hit 10 home runs with 47 RBIs and 98 hits. His defense graded out poorly with minus-10 outs above average. That put him in the second percentile for fielding.
Bellinger holds the key to this entire plan
None of this works without landing Bellinger first. The former MVP hit 29 homers with a .813 OPS for the Yankees in 2025. He opted out of his contract and became a free agent after the season.
General manager Brian Cashman has said the team is “very interested” in bringing him back. The problem is that Bellinger has drawn interest from the Mets, Dodgers and several other teams.
Recent projections have Bellinger landing a deal worth around $180 million over six or seven years. That is a significant investment. But losing him would leave a massive hole in the outfield.
Kyle Tucker is the other option. The former Astros star is also a free agent drawing heavy interest from the Blue Jays. If Toronto lands Tucker, the Yankees might be forced to pivot hard toward Bellinger.
The Marlins would welcome Dominguez
Miami is deep in a rebuild. They finished with 79 wins in 2025. Their lineup lacks impact bats. Dominguez could provide exactly what they need for the future.
The 22-year-old still carries enormous upside. His sprint speed ranks in the top 20 percent of players. His arm strength does too. With time to develop, he could become an elite defender.
The Yankees simply cannot afford to wait. Aaron Judge turns 34 next year. Cole is 35 and coming off major surgery. The current window to win is closing rapidly.
What Cabrera brings to the table
The right-hander made his MLB debut in 2021. He is now 27 years old with three years of arbitration remaining before free agency in 2029. That contract control makes him attractive.
His stuff plays well. Cabrera relies on a fastball-changeup combination. His changeup is unique because he throws it in the low 90s. It generates plenty of whiffs despite minimal velocity separation from the heater.
Career numbers show a 4.07 ERA with 478 strikeouts across 431.2 innings. The strikeout rate sits at 26 percent. The walks have been a problem at times. But when he is on, Cabrera can dominate.
The urgency factor cannot be ignored
Aaron Boone sent Dominguez to winter ball with a clear message. Get better. The manager still believes in the young outfielder.
“I still really like his ceiling,” Boone said. “I think he did a lot of really good things this year. But again, you’ve got to see where the winter takes you and what the roster looks like. I expect him to be a regular player for us.”
That expectation only holds if the Yankees cannot sign Bellinger or Tucker. If either outfielder comes aboard, Dominguez becomes trade bait. The Cabrera deal could happen quickly after that.
The offseason has been quiet in the Bronx. Too quiet. Cashman needs to make a move soon. Whether that means landing Bellinger and flipping Dominguez or relying on the youngster remains to be seen. Either way, time is running out.
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