What Happens if the Yankees Miss Out on Cody Bellinger? The Spotlight Could Shift to Jasson Domínguez
The Yankees made it no secret: Cody Bellinger was their top offseason target. But with free agency dragging on and the market thinning out, New York had to prepare for a world where they might not land him. That scenario would have opened the door for Jasson Domínguez to become a much bigger part of the Yankees’ plans in 2026.
Now that Bellinger has agreed to a five-year, $162.5 million deal with the Yankees, the immediate crisis has been averted. But the conversation around Domínguez remains relevant - because even with Bellinger in the fold, the Yankees still need to figure out what they have in the 22-year-old outfielder.
The 2025 Season: A Promising Start, Then a Slide
Domínguez opened the 2025 season in the Yankees’ starting lineup, batting sixth and playing left field on Opening Day. For the first couple of weeks, he was a regular presence.
But by the end of April, his role had started to shrink. Manager Aaron Boone adjusted the outfield alignment, moving Bellinger to left and giving Trent Grisham the everyday job in center.
Grisham’s emergence was one of the surprises of the season. Expected to be a fourth outfielder, he hit so well that Boone couldn’t keep him out of the lineup. That success came at the expense of Domínguez, whose own performance raised concerns - especially on defense.
By the end of April, Domínguez ranked dead last among left fielders in Outs Above Average. His reads off the bat, particularly against right-handed hitters, were shaky.
Balls tailed away toward the foul line, and he struggled to adjust. Boone frequently subbed him out in close games, often shifting Bellinger to left and inserting Grisham into center for defensive stability.
There were also lapses in decision-making - like throwing to the wrong base and allowing trailing runners to advance. And from the right side of the plate, his offensive production was nearly nonexistent.
Domínguez went 3-for-35 with 16 strikeouts in March and April as a right-handed hitter. That’s not just a slump - that’s a red flag.
The Numbers Tell a Story - And It’s Complicated
Domínguez’s struggles weren’t limited to the early going. By season’s end, he was tied for last among left fielders with a minus-9 Outs Above Average.
Offensively, he ranked 212th out of 240 hitters in wRC+ against left-handed pitching (minimum 100 plate appearances). Simply put: if the Yankees had to replace Bellinger with Domínguez in 2026, it would have been a significant step back - especially on defense.
But here’s where it gets interesting. The Yankees, particularly GM Brian Cashman, still believe in Domínguez’s upside.
“We’re very high on Domínguez and what he brings to the table,” Cashman said at the Winter Meetings. “He’s just a young, 22-year-old guy, and I think there’s a lot more to come.”
It’s not just empty praise. There’s real data to back up the optimism - at least from the left side of the plate.
Among players 22 or younger since 2015 with at least 100 plate appearances against right-handed pitching, Domínguez’s 113 OPS+ in 2025 ranked 30th. That’s ahead of names like Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, Rafael Devers, and José Ramírez at the same age. Of course, not all of those players panned out - Nomar Mazara and Akil Baddoo are cautionary tales - but it’s still a promising signal.
When Domínguez does make contact from the left side, he hits the ball hard - really hard. His average exit velocity was 92.9 mph, which would have tied him with Corey Seager and Manny Machado if he had qualified.
His 53.3% hard-hit rate would’ve ranked 14th in the league, tied with Matt Olson. That’s elite company.
He also showed solid plate discipline, with a 9.8% walk rate that would’ve landed him in the 70th percentile. The issue?
He doesn’t lift the ball enough. Domínguez hit just 12 fly balls to the pull side all year from the left side - and six of those left the yard.
Compare that to 47 fly balls hit to center or opposite field, and it’s clear there’s untapped power if he can start elevating and pulling the ball more consistently.
Still Raw - But Still Intriguing
Domínguez’s development has been anything but linear. He’s only played 502 career games between the minors and majors - not a huge number for a player his age. For context, Spencer Jones - another potential left-field option if Bellinger hadn’t re-signed - has played 516 games and is three years older, with his own inconsistencies.
Boone noted that Domínguez hasn’t had much time to develop his right-handed swing, which could explain some of the struggles. “We’re talking about a very, very young player that didn’t play a ton of minor-league baseball,” Boone said.
“What suffers from that? The side you don’t hit from as much.”
Boone still believes Domínguez’s right-handed swing could catch up to his left-handed one. But that remains a projection, not a certainty.
This winter, Domínguez briefly played in the Dominican Republic, posting a .568 OPS over 11 games. It’s a small sample size - too small to draw any real conclusions - but it’s another reminder that he’s still learning, still adjusting.
What If Bellinger Had Walked?
Had Bellinger signed elsewhere, the Yankees would have likely explored a platoon in left field, with Domínguez facing right-handers and a righty bat handling lefties. That setup could’ve masked some of Domínguez’s weaknesses at the plate, giving him time to improve his right-handed swing behind the scenes.
The Yankees reportedly checked in on Harrison Bader and Austin Hays - both of whom could’ve fit that platoon role - but those were backup plans. The real goal was always to bring Bellinger back.
And now that he’s back, the Yankees can breathe a little easier. But the Domínguez question hasn’t gone away. If he’s going to be more than a part-time player, he’ll need to clean up the defense, develop more consistency from the right side, and turn his raw tools into sustained production.
The Bottom Line
Cody Bellinger is the safer, more reliable option for 2026. That’s why the Yankees made the deal. But Jasson Domínguez remains one of the most intriguing - and volatile - X-factors on the roster.
If he puts it all together, the Yankees have a dynamic, switch-hitting outfielder with power, speed, and upside. If not, they’ll need to keep looking for answers in left field - even with Bellinger locked in.
Either way, Domínguez’s development will be one of the more fascinating storylines to watch as the Yankees chase another deep October run.