Fixing The Coming Logjam
- E.J. Fagan
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
by EJ Fagan
May 28, 2025
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NOTE: The following comes from EJ Fagan's substack page and is shared with permission. This was published a few days ago so the stats don't include the last few games.
Please check out EJ's substack page for more great articles.
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When Giancarlo Stanton returns, the Yankees will have seven players who are good enough to start every day for five lineup spots. They’re already struggling to find everyday at bats for Rice and Dominguez, but are mostly getting by. With Stanton, someone is going to have to become a true bench player.
That’s bad news for Rice and Dominguez, because they are both still developing. One way to resolve the logjam is to option one or both of them, but come on. Dominguez could get ROY consideration. Rice has been one of the best hitters in the majors. Sending them down would be a waste.
So what about a trade? Let’s see if any trades make sense. I’ll go from least likely to be traded to most likely.
Giancarlo Stanton
No trade clause. Too much money left. Not happening.
Jasson Dominguez
It would really take a blockbuster for the Yankees to trade Dominguez. Dominguez has a 143 wRC+ against right-handed pitching and 114 wRC+ overall. He’s 22 years old. Even with the bad defense, he’s immensely valuable.
Would I take him as the centerpiece for a mega star? Of course. Mr. Skenes would look great in pinstripes. But those trades almost never happen, especially mid-season.
Cody Bellinger
Bellinger has been incredible lately. Over his last 30 days, he has hit .330/.402/.608 with a 13% strikeout rate and excellent defense. He looks like an MVP candidate again. Even if he regressed back to his full season batting line, he’s immensely valuable.
But a trade isn’t insane. If some theoretical team be willing to swap half a season of a top starter for half a season of Bellinger, I could be convinced. But who is that team? Only contenders would be interested in paying his salary and risking an injury that leaves them on the hook for $20 million in 2026.
Here’s a trade proposal that definitely won’t happen: the Phillies send Jesus Luzardo for Cody Bellinger. I think that both teams are better after the trade, although the Phillies would need to bet on Aaron Nola coming back healthy. Plus Luzardo has an extra year of team control. I’m not sure that I pull the trigger if I’m Cashman, but it’s not impossible.
Ben Rice
Okay, now things get interesting. Rice is having himself a season. His recent slump has been all bad batted ball luck. His Statcast page is still elite:
Rice’s .846 OPS is great, especially in 2025, but it should probably be well over .900 with neutral luck. He could be a mainstay in the middle of the Yankee lineup for the next five years. They’ll need a first baseman when Goldschmidt leaves.
So why trade him? Well, he definitely has a lot of value, so you might be able to get something in return. But, you might also be selling high. I think that Rice is pretty good, but he’s still far from an establish MLB player. He could turn back into a pumpkin any day.
Domenic had a fun Rice trade proposal on last week’s podcast: what about Rice for MacKenzie Gore? He’s 26 years old with two and a half years of control remaining, has loads of talent and is finally putting it all together:
I don’t think that I pull the trigger on Rice-for-Gore, even if the Nationals throw in a relief pitcher or two, but it’s not a crazy proposal. Rice has a ton of a value given how good he is and how much control he has left and Gore is far from a sure thing.
Trent Grisham
Now we get to the real one. Grisham is a free agent after the 2025 season. He’s being paid just $5 million. And the performance is unreal:
Just wow. Grisham is going to be one interesting free agent if he keeps it up. He’s no longer an elite defender or runner, but is somehow an elite slugger in 2025. To his credit, he’s keeping it up. Here’s his xwOBA rolling average:
So who do you trade Grisham for?
May I present to you, third baseman Eugenio Suarez:
Suarez is one of those guys that I forget exists until I look at the home run leaderboards. He’s about to hit #300! He has a .862 OPS over his last 365 days. The defense has been unusually awful in 2025, but other than that Suarez fits the Yankees like a glove. They get their third baseman and another right-handed bat at the expense of an extra player that they don’t have a spot for. Your lineup becomes something like this monster:
1b Rice or Goldschmidt
RF Judge
CF Bellinger
3b Suarez
LF Dominguez
DH Stanton
2b Chisholm
SS Volpe
C Wells
Would the Diamondbacks do it? I don’t know. They are currently playing Alek Thomas in center, so Grisham would be a big upgrade. But they might also be full-on sellers at the deadline given how tough the West is, so Suarez might be available but for prospects.
Should the Yankees? I think I would pull the trigger on this one. Grisham isn’t going to be on this team after 2025. He has been better than Suarez in 2025, but is more of a regression risk. The team would need to find a new 4th outfielder as well.
Bottom Line
Something has to give. Short of an injury, the Yankees have extra players that they can’t use. Even if someone gets hurt or regresses hard, they would still have a spare on the roster.
Good problem to have?
Yes, but it’s still a problem to be solved.
