About the Off-Season: Second Thoughts About First Base

About the Off-Season: Second Thoughts About First Base

By Tim Kabel

November 5, 2025

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Recently, I wrote a series of articles detailing my plans for the 2026 New York Yankees’ roster. Well, I have given the matter more thought, as that is something I usually do. I frequently reconsider something I have said or done, Occasionally, I change my mind. That is what happened in this case.

Originally, I recommended that the Yankees play Ben Rice at first base and have Austin Wells as the primary catcher, while acquiring a right-handed hitting back up for Wells. I opined that having both Wells and Rice in the lineup would give the Yankees their best combination and strongest lineup. Cody Bellinger became a casualty of this plan, as I recommended that the Yankees use Jasson Dominguez as their regular leftfielder and Spencer Jones as the centerfielder. Based on that plan, there would have been nowhere for Bellinger to play on a daily basis.

Upon further review, I've come up with another option. It is true that having both Rice and Wells in the lineup together would be formidable, particularly if Wells improves as a hitter which I suspect he will. Many of us believe Wells was injured last season, which limited his offensive productivity for a significant period of time. However, although having Wells and Rice in the lineup together would be very nice, it is not the best combination available to the Yankees.

What if the Yankees re-signed Cody Bellinger and had him play first base primarily. Sure, he could go into the outfield on occasion to give Dominguez, Jones, or Judge a day off. The question becomes, what would happen to Ben Rice in this scenario. Ben Rice had a great year in 2025 and seems on the verge of becoming a major offensive threat for the Yankees. Well, Rice has also proven that he can catch. Not only can he catch, but he can also do it very well. That would make Austin Wells expendable.

I know I have long advocated for the Yankees to use and develop their young players.

However, choosing Rice over Wells is not abandoning youth. It's not as if I'm saying the Yankee should bring Butch Wynegar back. The emergence of Rice makes him and Wells somewhat duplicative. Yes, Rice can play first base but so can Bellinger. Bellinger is probably a better defensive first baseman than Rice is. It is simply that Rice and Bellinger together in the lineup is better than Rice and Wells together in the lineup. It is also better than Wells and Bellinger in the lineup.

So, let's recap. The Yankees should re-sign Cody Bellinger and have him as the primary first baseman. His defensive flexibility also gives you the option of moving him into the outfield on occasion. Ben Rice would become the primary catcher and the Yankees would still need to acquire a right-handed hitting backup catcher to spell him. On some days, Rice could play first base, and Bellinger could be in the outfield.

Austin Wells would sadly have to be traded if this were to occur. That is part of the game. I'm sure he could bring back a significant piece or two. There is a dearth of good catchers in the game, and he is among the better catchers, at least defensively. Maybe the Yankees could get a solid bullpen piece or two or maybe a pitcher to shore up the starting rotation.

Now, to be clear, signing Bellinger would not disrupt the rest of my plan. I would still like the Yankees to sign Bo Bichette, Alex Bregman, and Kyle Schwarber to be the designated hitter. Bichette would play shortstop and Bregman would be the third baseman. Anthony Volpe and Ryan McMahon would be traded.

If Schwarber is unavailable because he re-signs with the Phillies or chooses another team, the Yankees could pivot and either acquire a designated hitter via trade for some combination of Volpe, McMahon, and Wells. Another option would be to sign Pete Alonso from the Mets and have him either be the designated hitter full-time or rotate between first base and designated hitter with Ben Rice. Remember, a key part of my off-season plan is either trading or releasing Giancarlo Stanton. 

The Yankees need to upgrade the team, particularly the offense, from last season. Part of that upgrade would be retaining Cody Bellinger but changing his role from last season. Bringing him back and combining him with the new acquisitions of Bichette, Bregman, and Schwarber would give the Yankees a tremendous starting lineup.

This is an adjustment to the lineup and roster moves I suggested recently. It's just that Bellinger and Rice would be a better combination than Rice and Wells.