Too Many Outfielders?

Guest Post by Andrew Hefner

September 26, 2024

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As we get excited for the 2024 championship run, it's never too early to consider the unexpected predicament the Yankees will face going into 2025 regarding their outfield.  

Just one year ago, the New York Yankees outfield was a ragtag bunch and was a source of many of the Yanks' problems. Throughout the 2023 season, the Yankees faced many outfield predicaments, including (but certainly not limited to) the injury of the reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge, a lack of real outfield depth, and the consistent push to try to turn infielders into outfielders. 

What is amazing is that just a year later, the Yankees seem to have an outfielder surplus.

Let's take a quick look at each of the players who the Yankees will have to make decisions on going forward:

Aaron Judge: The Captain

Since 2017, Aaron Judge has been the face of the New York Yankees and one of the faces of baseball worldwide. The 2022 AL MVP has set countless records, won awards, led in league-wide stats, and has become the captain of the beloved Bronx Bombers. 

After an injury-shortened 2023, Aaron Judge has enjoyed a stellar 2024.  It's likely he'll be the MVP again.  It's almost as if we start taking for granted his 50 home run seasons.

The question for next year will be whether he plays centerfield, or a corner spot.  Judge, signed for many more years, is the main cog in the team's engine.  

Giancarlo Stanton: The Slugger 

Since his entrance into the MLB in 2010, Giancarlo Stanton has been one of the best power hitters in the league with a career slugging of over .525 and mashing 427 career home runs. The same success cannot be said for his outfield skills, though, since his acquisition from the Marlins, the Yankees were reluctant to use him in the field at the start and now he simply cannot play out there. Since the blockbuster trade in 2018, Stanton has been a staple of the Yankees DH spot, and when healthy, has repeatedly shown he is capable of being an everyday guy in that position though, injuries have plagued the superstar. Since the end of his service in the field, Giancarlo Stanton has gone through injury after injury, often ending seasons and leaving them without the slugger when needed most. In theory, having Stanton in the field could still work as it would keep him loose and give him more action on a day-to-day basis. Still, it seems Stanton will continue in the DH spot in the foreseeable future unless the Yankees find a way to make more room and cab find a taker who believes in Stanton's future enough to take his huge salary.  

Alex Verdugo: The Surprise (At The Start, At Least)

In only the 7th trade between familiar foes since 1969, the Red Sox made a surprise move in dealing left fielder Alex Verdugo to the Yanks in early 2024. The deal, meant to round out the Yankees outfield, came with praise at first, but now with only a few weeks left in the 2024 season, many fans have been left disappointed. Verdugo has been the everyday left fielder for the Yankees and, although an improvement from some past years, he has struggled on the offensive side of the ball. Slashing a rough .233 average, Verdugo has lacked any real consistency when at the plate and cast some doubt on whether he should even stay in the everyday lineup. Verdugo will be a free agent this offseason. He seems to enjoy playing in New York, and from the looks of it, the Yankees seem reluctant to take him out of the lineup, so there is a possibility he returns. If he does, he will most likely be seen in left again next year. 

Jasson Dominguez: The Young-Gun

Dubbed “The Martian” because of his “out of this world” baseball skills, Jasson Dominguez had been one of the most highly regarded prospects in the minors before his MLB debut in 2023. Jasson got off to a strong start, knocking 4 homers and batting .258 in his first 33 plate appearances in the majors before going down with an elbow injury. Unfortunately for him and the Yankees that elbow injury would lead Jasson to Tommy John surgery and he was moved to the injured list where he remained until July 2024. Due to the MLB roster already having Judge, Soto, Verdugo, and Grisham, Jasson would remain in the minors with AAA Scranton/Wilkes Barre much to the dismay of the fanbase. It wouldn’t be until September 10th, well past the September roster expansion, that Brian Cashman would pull the trigger to bring him back up to the Bronx. So far, Jasson has had mixed results with limited plate appearances.  Worse, he has struggled immensely on the defensive side of the ball. The Martian made two costly errors during the Yanks series in Seattle and now many are doubting his skills in the field. Jasson will stay up in the MLB for now, and it seems all but certain that he'll begin 2025 on the big club. 

Juan Soto: The Spark 

On December 6, 2023, young San Diego Padres star Juan Soto was traded to New York. The 25-year-old, already a World Series champion and 4-time all-star, was added to the already talented Yankees roster to fill a much-needed hole in the Yankees outfield. Since the beginning of his Yankees tenure, Soto has been seen throughout the outfield, but more importantly, in front of Aaron Judge in the lineup. The duo have become the first pair of Yankees with both having 40+ home runs in a season since Maris and Mantle and have cemented themselves in New York history. This is all well and good, but coming this offseason, Juan Soto will be back on the market for other teams to take a stab at acquiring him. As previously mentioned, the Yankees have no shortage of young talent to fill the void that Jaun Soto may leave in the outfield, but there is not anyone who can currently live up to the precedent Soto has set this season. The Yankees will certainly have an important choice to make, but most fans believe the Yankees will agree to break the bank to bring Soto back to the Bronx.

Trent Grisham: The Benchwarmer 

Along with Juan Soto, a strong outfield gloveman in Trent Grisham was also sent on his way from San Diego to New York. Grisham, a two-time gold glove winner, was sent along as part of the deal to help secure an extra strong defender in the Yankees outfield. During his time with the Padres, he was more of an everyday guy, standing in for 555 plate appearances last year. This year, with the acquisitions of Verdugo, Soto, and the Baby Bombers, Boone has struggled to find a way to insert him into the lineup. This is the first real issue the Yanks have found themselves in where they now have too many outfielders to find playing time for. In 200 plate appearances thus far in 2024, he has batted for an unimpressive .188. This could be due to a lack of consistency in his appearances and just the fact that he is not, nor was ever going to be an everyday guy with the Yankees. Before the season he signed a one-year contract to avoid arbitration. It does not seem likely Grisham will return as he will most likely be able to find a better situation elsewhere. 

Oswaldo Cabrera: The Utility Man 

During the rough 2023 season, young utility guy and homegrown prospect Oswaldo Cabrera, an infielder by trade,  was flung into the outfield, commonly playing LF and RF. Waldo instantly showed his versatility making play after play while being a consistent and clutch bat on the offensive side of the ball. Cabrera, originally a 2B, has more recently been playing 3B and 1B with the injuries to Anthony Rizzo and DJ LeMahieu, but with the acquisition of Jazz Chisolm and the return of Rizzo, his reps have been limited as of late. Waldo could still play the OF if needed, but with the extraordinary depth the Yanks now have, it’s unlikely. Many supporters of Cabrera have been left looking for more from him this season, but it doesn’t seem like more playing time will be coming for him anytime soon or maybe even next year. 

Spencer Jones: The Next in Line

Spencer Jones, regarded by some as the “next Aaron Judge”, is the Yankee's #2 prospect and is currently with AA Somerset. The 6’ 6” Vanderbilt alum is an impressive batter with an immense amount of power while showing good defensive skills so far in the minors. One problem, though, is that he strikes out too much.  Much too much.  Right now there is no space for him.  He also needs to prove he can handle AAA.  If he gets it together though, he could be knocking on the door as early as next year. 

With all this being said, the Yankees and Brian Cashman have come back from a shaky 2023 season with a good problem to have - too much talent. The Yankees outfield has looked stronger than they have in years.  This could be a championship year - and the future seems bright as well.