How a Cody Bellinger position switch would dictate Yankees’ offseason plan

The New York Yankees are in need of more bats to avoid another offensive letdown, which was on full display when they got swept by the AL East rival Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS. The Yankees have holes at second base and third base, but there is also uncertainty in their outfield.

As it stands, the Yankees' starting outfield features Aaron Judge in right field, Spencer Jones in center field and Cody Bellinger in left. However, it's unknown whether they're willing to hand the reins over to Jones as their everyday center fielder just yet.

Moving Cody Bellinger to center field would changes the Yankees' offseason plans

According to YES Network insider Jack Curry, Jones is the "leading" name to be the Yankees' center fielder next season. That being said, the Yankees will look at other options to upgrade the position, and team sources have identified Bellinger and Judge as potential candidates to play center.

Judge should be out of the question for center given he is coming off an injury-plagued season. So for the sake of this exercise let's call Bellinger the only realistic option.

FanSided spoke with a league source, who believes shifting Bellinger to center would open the door for the Yankees to pursue a right-handed hitting outfielder. The source named Teoscar Hernandez of the Los Angeles Dodgers as well as free agents Seiya Suzuki and Tyrone Taylor as possible fits for New York.

The Yankees would have to trade for Hernandez, who is entering the final guaranteed year of his deal with the Dodgers. He also has a $15 million club option for the 2028 season. Hernandez is 34 years old and was the second-worst left fielder in baseball last season with -7 Outs Above Average. He would significantly downgrade the Yankees' outfield defense after Bellinger won the Platinum Glove Award in left field. But the Yankees would be acquiring Hernandez for his offensive pop, and his righty bat would help balance out the Yankees' lefty heavy lineup.

Suzuki would be the perfect fit for the Yankees and would enhance both their offense and defense. However, the free agent is attached to the qualifying offer, meaning the Yankees would have to surrender their second- and fifth-highest draft pick selections and $1 million in international bonus pool money to sign him. The Yankees might be scared away by that price, but signing Suzuki would give the team an offense that would be feared by opposing pitchers.

As for Taylor, he's a player that has made a career by playing stellar outfield defense. In 2026, Taylor broke out with the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs, slashing .279/.325/.502 with an .827 OPS, 11 home runs, 38 RBI and a 1.7 bWAR. Taylor can play both left field and center, but wouldn't move the needle enough to shift Bellinger to center on a full-time basis. That said, Taylor would be a good fit as a fourth outfielder and Trent Grisham replacement in 2027.

The Yankees have about three weeks to set this in stone and fans are hoping they make the right decision.

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