DALLAS — With Juan Soto’s defection to the Mets creating a gap in proper subject, a well-recognized face might man the place for the Yankees in 2025.
A robust proper fielder for many of his profession, Aaron Decide grew to become a full-time heart fielder to accommodate Soto in 2024. Whereas Decide put an emphasis on defending his physique at occasions after a toe damage value him two months in 2023, defensive metrics weren’t notably sort to his efforts in the midst of the outfield.
For instance, Decide’s -6 Outs Above Common ranked thirty ninth out of 40 certified heart fielders.
So whereas the Yankees have been linked to Plan B potentialities in proper subject now that Soto is gone, don’t be shocked if Decide returns to the nook subsequent season.
“It makes sense,” Brian Cashman stated Monday on the Winter Conferences. “We’re not afraid to run him out in center like we’ve done, but it makes sense to have him over in right.”
Added Aaron Boone: “That’s always in play. The great thing about Judgey is he gives us that flexibility, not only with his ability but also his willingness to do whatever’s needed for the team. It’s too early in the sense that we don’t know what our team looks like heading into spring training in the middle of February. We’ll see what moves we make and don’t make and how it all shakes out.”
Transferring Decide to proper might create a lane for Jasson Domínguez in heart, a chance that Cashman famous.
Domínguez, hindered by accidents in 2024, was known as up for a September audition in left subject final season, however the pure heart fielder didn’t supplant the incumbent Alex Verdugo thanks largely to poor defensive play. Regardless of the lackluster exhibiting at an unfamiliar place, Boone believes that Domínguez is able to be a full-time, main league heart fielder. After all, that doesn’t imply he gained’t face competitors for the job, as Cashman stated, “I’m not anointing him our center fielder” simply but.
Such competitors might embody an elite, incumbent defender in Trent Grisham and new acquisitions.
“He’s certainly put himself in a position to be in consideration for anything,” Boone stated of Domínguez. “If you look at it right now, he’s probably in there. I love the person and what I believe he can be as a player, but he’s also very young and very inexperienced to this point. So we’ll see how it all shakes out.”
After all, nothing is about in stone for Decide or Domínguez, who deliberate on getting extra reps in left this offseason.
With Soto bolting the Bronx, the Yankees have been linked to free brokers Anthony Santander and Teoscar Hernández. Neither are good defenders, however they pack a punch on the plate. Santander solely performed proper for the Orioles final season, whereas Hernández may also play left.
The free agent marketplace for heart fielders is uninspiring, however the Cubs’ Cody Bellinger has additionally come up in commerce rumors. He can play proper, heart and first base, the place the Yankees even have a query mark.
One participant who doubtless gained’t issue into the Yankees’ outfield plans is Jazz Chisholm Jr. He transitioned from second to heart in Miami earlier than studying third base with the Yankees final season.
Cashman stated he prefers Chisholm enjoying the infield.
Initially Revealed: December 10, 2024 at 9:58 AM EST
