The New York Yankees have been connected to a Cody Bellinger replacement no fan wants to see.
The New York Yankees have yet to re-sign Cody Bellinger, and while that doesn't necessarily mean that Bellinger is a goner (far from it), it certainly indicates that he is more than often to leaving the Bronx for the right deal.
The Yankees must come to grips with the possibility of Bellinger signing elsewhere, and that will present a rather significant challenge for general manager Brian Cashman.
Would New York really be comfortable rolling with youngsters Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones in a quasi platoon in left field? Or would the Yanks bring in another veteran in the event that Bellinger departs?
Chris Kirschner of The Athletic seems to feel it's the latter, and he has identified a potential candidate for the Yankees in that regard: Austin Hays.
Talk about one of the least exciting options you can imagine.
Hays did hit lefties very well with the Cincinnati Reds in 2025, slashing .319/.400/.549 over 105 plate appearances. He also boasts a lifetime .819 OPS against left-handed pitching, an area in which Dominguez really struggles.
The problem, however, is that Hays is now 30 years old and has shown significant signs of defensive decline the last couple of seasons. You would then also be running into a scenario where if Dominguez doesn't play well, Hays could become the Yankees' full-time left fielder.
No one wants to see that.
Hays isn't a bad player. He owns a respectable .748 OPS since entering the big leagues in 2017, and he even made an All-Star appearance with the Baltimore Orioles in 2023.
But going from Bellinger to a Dominguez-Hays platoon in left field would represent a massive dropoff, and it certainly wouldn't bring the Yankees any closer to a World Series title.
Should New York lose Bellinger, its best course of action would be to pivot to trades rather than try and fit Hays into such a critical role. Hays would be a fine fourth outfielder in the event that the Yanks trade Dominguez this winter. He shouldn't be starting. Not in the Yankees' current lineup. Neither should Dominguez, for that matter.
I am still of the opinion that New York will ultimately get something done with Bellinger. If the Yankees allow Bellinger to walk, however, they could be in some deep trouble, especially considering they seem wildly unlikely to turn to Kyle Tucker.