The New York Yankees probably won’t keep all three of Trent Grisham, Cody Bellinger, and Jasson Dominguez next to Aaron Judge in the outfield rotation in 2026. In fact, there are already indications that one of them is a likely goner.
CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa predicts Brian Cashman bringing back Bellinger and placing Dominguez on the trade block. Dominguez is under team control through the 2031 season, but may come nowhere close to finishing that out in the Bronx.
“Even if Trent Grisham accepts the qualifying offer, the Yankees intend to pursue a reunion with Cody Bellinger, reports NJ.com. Bellinger had a terrific season in New York, posting his best home run total (29) and WAR (5.1) since his 2019 NL MVP season. He also seamlessly bounced between all three outfield spots. We ranked Bellinger as the sixth-best free agent available,” Axisa wrote.
“Aaron Judge is locked into right field and erstwhile top prospect Jasson Domínguez received most of the playing time in left field this year until the Yankees went with the Bellinger/Grisham/Judge outfield late in the season and postseason. Grisham accepting the qualifying offer and Bellinger returning could put Domínguez, who is still only 22, on the trade block.”
Related: Cashman tried to trade him at the MLB trade deadline to the Minnesota Twins in an effort to land closer Jhoan Duran.
The 27-year-old Duran landed with the Philadelphia Phillies instead, being swapped for SP Mick Abel and C Eduardo Tait. Duran set a Phillies franchise record with three consecutive 1-2-3 saves. Meanwhile, the Yankees were eliminated in the ALDS by the Toronto Blue Jays due to a bad bullpen.
Cashman won’t be fooled again. Or at least he probably won’t fail to upgrade the roster for another all-in push next year.
Dominguez is still a work-in-progress, so wherever he lands should be anything but a win-now situation.