Why a Jasson Dominguez trade isn't more likely after Yankees-Cody Bellinger reunion

There's been a common sentiment that the Yankees reuniting with Cody Bellinger would result in Jasson Dominguez being shipped out of town. Well, Bellinger is back, courtesy of a five-year, $162.5 million deal. Does that mean a trade of the Martian is the next shoe to drop?

The Yankees have been linked to Freddy Peralta, but the competition to swing a trade with the Brewers for their ace is fierce. Unconfirmed reports have the Brewers asking the New York Mets for top prospects like Jonah Tong, Brandon Sproat, and Jett Williams in a trade. The chances of the Yankees ponying up to meet that sort of price are slim.

The more time that passes, the more it seems like the high price New York paid to acquire Ryan Weathers from the Miami Marlins signals that they felt that he was the final piece to complete their starting rotation/pitching staff.

Yankees re-signing Cody Bellinger doesn't mean Jasson Dominguez is sure to be traded

There are future roster considerations to keep in mind as well. Center field could soon become an issue again. Trent Grisham is only here for one year, and if he regresses back to his pre-2025 form, he might not be penciled into the everyday lineup.

Dominguez's play in left field has been highly criticized, and for good reason. With that said, he's a natural center fielder who was regarded as a solid defender at the position as a prospect.

Speaking of Dominguez's time as a prospect, he's the epitome of prospect fatigue. Signed as a 16-year-old back in 2019 and dubbed as the next big thing almost immediately, we have been waiting forever to see those results. So long in fact, that it's hard to believe that Dominguez is only about to turn 23 in February. Throw in two abbreviated big league stints in 2023 (when he looked amazing) and 2024 (when he really struggled after Tommy John surgery), and his average 2025 rookie campaign feels like a disappointment.

All of this is to say, it's far too early to close the book on the youngster reaching his full potential, and the Yankees will likely need him sooner rather than later. If Grisham leaves after the season (or gets hurt), he's next in line to get center field reps. Cody Bellinger can play the position, but as he ages his effectiveness there will wane.

As for Dominguez's top competition, Spencer Jones, the Yankees' No. 6 prospect, is nearly two full years older than Dominguez and has yet to play a full season at Triple-A. Jones has tantalizing power and went on an absolute tear last summer, but the strikeouts are a serious concern, and his campaign ended on a whimper. He has not usurped Dominguez in the pecking order in the slightest, and if either outfielder is moved for a pitcher, it would likely be Jones who goes.

In the proper context, Dominguez's rookie season was not all that bad and is actually pretty typical of a young player. For the Yankees to cut bait after all this time developing him and awaiting his arrival would be short-sighted in most deals. Bellinger doesn't change any of that, and while you can never say never, his position on the roster should be relatively secure at least through the rest of the winter.