
With Cody Bellinger finally re-signing, we now pretty much know what the New York Yankees' roster will look like in 2026.
Sure, the Yankees might make a couple of minor moves here or there, such as adding a relief pitcher or two, but for the most part, what you see is what you get.
And that's what makes things so interesting for two New York players: Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones.
Dominguez was the Yankees' starting left fielder to begin last season, but that quickly changed when it became clear that Trent Grisham was on pace for a breakout campaign. And when Giancarlo Stanton returned later in the year, finding playing time for Dominguez became that much more difficult.
New York Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez. Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images.The 22-year-old was relegated to a bench role thanks much in part to his defensive struggles and his decline at the plate, and now, with Bellinger back in the fold, Dominguez is officially without a starting job.
Then there is Jones, the titanic 6-foot-7, 240-pound outfielder who turns 25 in May and still hasn't sniffed the big leagues yet.
Bellinger just signed back for five years. Grisham is only on a qualifying offer, but if he has another strong season in 2026, he could stick around. Aaron Judge is, well, Aaron Judge. That outfield is pretty much set.
And even if Grisham departs after next year, Dominguez clearly cannot play center field, and the jury is out on Jones.
It seems patently obvious at this point that one of Dominguez or Jones are getting traded. That doesn't necessarily mean it will happen before the start of the season, but it would be rather surprising to see both of these youngsters still with the organization once 2027 rolls around.
Dominguez was once one of the top prospects in all of baseball, but injuries and a rather underwhelming power display in the minors and in his first full big-league campaign have hurt his value. His subpar defensive instincts haven't helped, either.
Jones, meanwhile, boasts prodigious power, having homered 35 times in 2025. But he can't seem to best his nasty strikeout problem, one that major-league pitchers will easily exploit.
New York Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones. Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images.While the value of both players has certainly dipped, make no mistake: there are still plenty of teams around baseball who would love to have one of the two outfielders, an the Yankees surely know this.
Brian Cashman has always been reluctant to trade prospects, but after re-signing Bellinger, what really is the point of keeping both Dominguez and Jones around for the long haul? And the longer he waits to deal either slugger, the more their stock could potentially drop.
When the trade deadline comes around and New York finds itself in need of another bat or a starting pitcher, expect both Dominguez and Jones to surface in trade talks, and this time, it won't just consist of Cashman immediately declining.
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