In Part 6 of our continuing series breaking down how the Yankees should navigate the offseason position by position, we look at the outfield.
This is so much about what you think about Spencer Jones, notably can he capably handle center field? But that is part of a greater mosaic in which you have to consider
- Cody Bellinger can opt out of his contract after the 2027 or 2028 seasons.
- Aaron Judge turns 35 in April and is coming off a season in which he incurred two significant injuries that were not seemingly the result of traumatic moments.
The Yankees have to worry that Bellinger is leaving as early as after next year and that Judge’s size/force/age might put him on a Giancarlo Stanton physical trajectory where breakdowns are more familiar. So you can look at Bellinger/Judge and believe the Yankees have as good a corner outfield situation as exists in the majors. Or you could see real issues lurking.
Thus, even if the Yankees do not view Jones as a center fielder, you could see how integral he may be in the near future in the corner outfield. Consider, for example, Stanton has no more than a year left with the Yankees, with his contract expiring after next year, so Judge could work into DH a lot more frequently. That would open right field at-bats.