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With only a couple of weeks before the Yankees report to spring training there are still questions regarding the roster.
The biggest are how the team will align their outfield and infield with their recent departures and additions this offseason. Manager Aaron Boone was a guest on WFAN’s Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata show on Tuesday afternoon and answered these questions and more. He shed some light on the organization’s thinking, especially when it comes to prospect Jasson Dominguez.
Dominguez to play left field
With the departure of Juan Soto and the acquisition of Cody Bellinger, it was unclear where Dominguez would play in 2025. His natural position is in center but Bellinger is a Gold Glover in that spot and the young switch-hitter struggled in left last season. However, Boone said they are ready to get Dominguez ready to play in the corner outfield.
“We’ll try and get Dominguez up to speed in left,” Boone said. “Bellinger probably in center with [Trent] Grisham in the mix there too. If Giancarlo [Stanton] has a day off or I want to DH [Aaron] Judge, I feel good moving Bellinger wherever. Ideally, I don’t want to move Dominguez as much.
“On a day G is out, Judge is DH, I can move Bellinger over [to right field] and throw Grisham in center and keep Dominguez in left. We’ll see how it all shakes out.”
Boone also mentioned prospect Everson Pereira as a potential outfielder off the bench. The right-hander played 27 games in the majors in 2023 where he struggled. He slashed .151/.233/.194 with no home runs and 10 RBI. He missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery and is expected to fight for a roster spot in spring training.
“Everson Pereira is back this year, he had Tommy John last year, I think he can play in the mix this year,” Boone said. “And there’s always people that surprise you. You never know what can happen from a move standpoint in these next few weeks.”
Infield alignment
Although the everyday outfield alignment is pretty clear, the infield is less so. Jazz Chisholm Jr. was the team’s third baseman after coming to the Bronx at the trade deadline but with Gleyber Torres signed elsewhere, it’s unclear where the Yankees want their dynamic young infielder in 2025. Well, Boone shed some light on his thinking as spring training looms.
“Right now I would have Jazz at second,” Boone said. “Then [Oswaldo] Cabrera and DJ [LeMahieu] and even [Oswald] Peraza are vying in the mix for that third base.”
On the LeMahieu remark, the Yankees skipper got pushback from the radio hosts about the veteran infielder’s ability to be effective and Boone stood his ground.
“He’s going to have that opportunity,” Boone said of LeMahieu. “The reality is, DJ’s been an amazing hitter. He’s just been hurt. Hopefully, with some health, some of that bat can return. He can really defend and … I think there’s a role for him, it just depends on his health.”
Lineup configuration
Soto was the Yankees’ No. 2 hitter last season and the lineup excelled. Without Soto, Judge will likely return to the No. 2 spot, but that begs the question, who will leadoff?
“We’re very left-handed, so it just depends who solves that leadoff spot and if it’s one guy or one guy vs. a righty, one guy vs. a lefty,” Boone said. “I would prefer one guy … a perfect world you love rolling them out. The biggest thing is trying to have a guy that is getting on base at a high level in that number one spot.”
Boone threw out some names like Chisholm to potentially leadoff but the longtime Yankees manager sees Dominguez as a potential fit.
“Dominguez’s DNA is that because he gets on a lot and has power and can really run, too,” Boone added. “That’s a positive. But he has a DNA that gets on while Bellinger and Jazz with their power and bat-to-ball, will play well in the middle [of the lineup].”
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