Candidates to Fill Yankees' Final Outfield Spot

Yankees Outfield of Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, and Aaron Judge

Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

November 18, 2025

Candidates to Fill Yankees Final Outfield Spot

On Tuesday, it was announced that New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham accepted his one-year, $22 million qualifying offer for the 2026 season. A key piece of the 2023 Juan Soto trade, Grisham broke out in 2025 with a 34-home run, 74-RBI campaign. Now, he returns to the Bronx for another year.

For the time being, Grisham projects as the Yankees’ starting center fielder, while reigning American League MVP Aaron Judge holds down the right field spot. The left field position, though, is a question mark. Thankfully, the Yankees have a few ways in which they could address the other corner outfield spot.

An In-House Name

Embed from Getty Images

Despite an inconsistent first full season, Jasson Dominguez showcased his potential in 2025. In May, Dominguez had a three-home run game against the Athletics. Two months later, he had another multi-home run game against the New York Mets. For the season, Dominguez hit .257 in 115 games, proving he can hit for average, too.

In the field, Dominguez certainly had his struggles, highlighted by his fielding run value of -9. But with another full season in left field, Dominguez would likely improve. The Yankees signed him for a franchise record $5.1 million in 2019, and they would be foolish to throw in the towel after one full season.

A Familiar Face

Embed from Getty Images

After a successful 2025 season with the Yankees, Cody Bellinger is one of the top free agents on the market. The former National League MVP is expected to receive interest from multiple teams, so keeping him in the Bronx won’t be easy by any means.

Last season, Bellinger hit 29 home runs and 98 RBI, the most since his MVP season in 2019. But despite his ability to hit, Bellinger’s work in the outfield showcases his true value. In the 145 games he started in the outfield last season, Bellinger played 59 in left field, 48 in right field, and 38 in center field. In the event of an injury, Bellinger’s versatility allows him to shift seamlessly to any spot.

An Unproven Talent

Embed from Getty Images

On Tuesday, the Yankees announced they were elevating their #4 prospect, Spencer Jones, to the 40-man roster. Still, making him the starter in left field would truly be a gamble as, unlike Dominguez, Jones hasn’t yet tasted the major leagues.

In 2025, Jones posted a 35-home run, 80-RBI season across AA and AAA. However, there’s no guarantee that production translates to the majors, especially considering he struck out 179 times in 116 games.

The biggest gamble, though, comes with Jones’ ability to play left field. In his minor league career, Jones has played a total of 12 games in left field, with the other 369 being split between center field, right field, and designated hitter. Dominguez struggled to adjust in left field last season, and it’s certainly possible Jones experiences those same struggles.