The Yankees already have a massive 2026 roster solution staring them in the face

The 2025 New York Yankees have some legitimate questions. Balancing how to get both Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton into the lineup at the same time is one, but that is a temporary problem that will be solved once Judge's recovery allows him to resume his post in right field.

A more pressing long-term issue is how the Yankees address Austin Wells' dramatic struggles behind the plate, while also managing first base as Paul Goldschmidt deals with a sore knee that hopefully won't require an IL stint.

First base, catcher, and more will become even greater issues once the offseason rolls around. The Yankees will have to make a decision on Goldschmidt, which will impact where and how much Ben Rice plays, while also figuring out their outfield alignment with key pieces Trent Grisham and (likely) Cody Bellinger, hitting the open market. Fortunately, a dream scenario exists to solve all of these issues, even if the Yankees don't see it yet.

The Yankees have an obvious solution to their 2026 roster conundrum right under their nose

The conventional wisdom seems to be that the Yankees will let the soon-to-be 38-year-old Paul Goldschmidt walk in the offseason while Statcast darling Ben Rice succeeds him at first base. From there, it's assumed that the Yankees retain only one of Grisham and Bellinger, with Grisham likely being the odd man out.

Adding to the chaos, it sure seems as if slugging top prospect Spencer Jones won't be denied a spot on the 2026 roster, meaning someone has got to go, right? Well, maybe not. There might be a way to keep the band together while putting the best possible lineup on the field. The Yankees just need to use the ingredients they already have and get a little creative.

One of the things that makes Bellinger appealing is his versatility. Tremendously athletic, Bellinger is an above-average defender at all three outfield spots as well as first base. He'll have a robust market should he opt out of his contract, with the New York Mets possibly looking to steal him away.

The Yankees would be wise not to let that happen and bring Bellinger back into the fold, but this time as the club's starting first baseman. While that means Ben Rice won't be anointed as the heir-apparent to Goldschmidt as previously thought, it doesn't mean the young slugger will be pushed aside.

Rice instead should return to his natural position at catcher. That's right, Rice was drafted as a catcher and played there for a decent chunk of his minor league career. While some have concerns that squatting behind the plate will take some of the thunder out of his bat, it's important to remember that Rice absolutely mashed throughout the entirety of his minor league career.

That would also mean doing something very un-Yankee-like, in forcing former top prospect Austin Wells into the backup catcher role. While the Yankees would love for Wells to reach his potential as a stellar offensive catcher, his performance has only declined the more he's played, and his .341 OPS in the month of August should be the telltale sign that something needs to change.

Lastly, retaining Grisham gives the Yankees the defense and power they seek in center field, while they allow Jones and Jasson Dominguez to duke it out for the left field job, with the loser serving as the fourth outfielder extraordinaire. The Yankees have already proven that they can find at-bats for all of these guys, so why not continue that trend?

All said and done, this would give the Yankees their optimal lineup while not sacrificing defensive efficiency. The Yankees absolutely need to make this happen, even if it means eating some crow regarding Wells and opening the checkbook more than they might like.