The New York Yankees are considering utilizing Cody Bellinger in center field, though first base remains a possibility. Moving Bellinger to center would allow Aaron Judge to shift to right field, his more natural position. Instead of adding another left fielder, the Yankees are focusing on acquiring Pete Alonso to take over first base. This move would also give Jasson Dominguez the chance to prove his value to General Manager Brian Cashman.
“I’d like to see Dominguez get his shot now,” Cashman told the New York Post. “He’s young. He’s got to earn it and retain it.”
At 21, Dominguez hasn’t had much success in his brief MLB appearances, totaling just 26 games at the big league level. However, the Yankees’ top-ranked prospect has immense potential. Last season, he posted a .314 batting average and .880 OPS across 58 minor league games. While his defense could still improve, Dominguez will only be 22 when the 2025 season starts. His five-tool skill set makes him a player with significant upside, and acquiring Alonso would provide Dominguez with the opportunity to prove himself.
It’s important to note that Bellinger is coming off a down year, with an OPS of just .751—slightly above league average. His salary is higher than that of a typical outfielder or first baseman, depending on where the Yankees decide to use him.
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Should the Yankees acquire Pete Alonso from their cross-town rivals and give Dominguez a chance to shine? Alonso, a career Met, has established himself as one of the most powerful hitters in baseball since his debut in 2019. Only Aaron Judge has hit more home runs than the 30-year-old slugger over that period. A lineup featuring Judge, Stanton, Bellinger, and Alonso would give the Yankees an elite power-hitting group. If Dominguez lives up to Cashman’s expectations, he could easily replace the production left behind by Juan Soto in 2024.
Alonso has never hit fewer than 30 home runs in a full season and has consistently been durable, never missing more than ten games in a year. The Yankees have been searching for a long-term solution at first base since Mark Teixeira’s retirement, and Alonso could be the answer. While 2024 was his worst season statistically, with career lows in home runs, RBIs, and OPS (excluding the 2020 shortened season), Alonso proved he remains a dominant force in the postseason, batting .273 with a .999 OPS and 4 home runs.
Pairing Alonso with Judge, Bellinger, and Stanton in the lineup would provide the protection Alonso has lacked in his career. This addition would cap off what has been a strong offseason for Cashman, especially after losing the Juan Soto sweepstakes to the Mets. Cashman has still managed to bring in key pieces to keep the Yankees among the best teams in the American League.
In addition to targeting Alonso, Cashman traded for top closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers and signed Max Fried to an eight-year contract. While the Fried deal is a gamble, the Yankees are in win-now mode. Adding Alonso to an already potent lineup, alongside Judge, Bellinger, Stanton, Chisholm, and Wells, could push the team to the next level—especially if Dominguez rises to the occasion.
