The Yankees may not be in a great spot on the waiver wire, but that shouldn’t stop them from making a move for Justyn-Henry Malloy. After the Tigers designated the 25-year-old over the weekend, New York has a real opportunity to add a high-upside bat without breaking the bank - and without waiting around for the waiver order to play out. If they want to get creative and add depth with long-term potential, now’s the time to act.
Let’s be clear: Malloy isn’t a household name - yet. But he’s coming off a monster season at Triple-A Toledo, where he posted a 163 wRC+, a .955 OPS, and a .394 xwOBA.
That’s not just a hot streak - that’s sustained, elite production. He walked nearly 17% of the time and continued to show his value against left-handed pitching, where he owns a career 136 wRC+ in the big leagues.
That’s the kind of profile that fits snugly into a modern bench - especially one that needs right-handed punch and positional flexibility.
The Yankees, meanwhile, are still in the middle of their outfield puzzle. Cody Bellinger’s free agency continues to drag on, and the longer it goes, the more it feels like the Yankees are waiting to see if the price drops into their comfort zone.
Bellinger’s lefty bat and defensive versatility are appealing, no doubt - especially with Trent Grisham likely gone after the season and Aaron Judge potentially shifting off right field down the line. A five-year deal for Bellinger could offer stability, but only if the dollars make sense.
If another team is willing to meet Scott Boras’ sky-high asking price, the Yankees should be content to let them.
That doesn’t mean they’re out of options. Jasson Domínguez is still very much in the picture, even after a shortened 2025 campaign.
His switch-hitting hasn’t yielded great results against lefties so far - just a .530 OPS in 134 plate appearances - but that doesn’t mean he’s a lost cause. It might just mean he needs to be deployed more strategically.
A platoon could be the answer, and Malloy, with his righty bat and strong track record against southpaws, could be an ideal complement.
The Yankees could go the veteran route - someone like Austin Hays makes sense on paper - but Malloy offers something different: upside. He’s not a finished product, but he doesn’t need to be.
He just needs a clearly defined role, and the Yankees have the roster flexibility and minor league depth to make it happen. Malloy has already proven he can mash lefties, and in 261 at-bats with Toledo last season, he hit .322 with a .453 OBP.
That’s not just productive - that’s elite plate discipline and contact ability wrapped into one.
And there’s a local angle here, too. Malloy was born in New York City and raised in New Jersey.
A return to the area could be a welcome reset for a player who’s shown he can hit when given the chance. If the Yankees want to get ahead of the market and add a controllable, high-upside piece to their bench - one who could grow into more - this is the kind of low-risk, high-reward move that makes sense.
At the end of the day, the Yankees don’t need to wait for the waiver wire to do them any favors. They can pick up the phone, jump the line, and make a move that could pay off both now and down the road. Malloy isn’t a blockbuster addition, but he’s exactly the kind of smart, strategic pickup that can quietly strengthen a contending roster.