Yankees' latest move prioritizes Cody Bellinger's strengths over Jasson Dominguez

Pittsburgh Pirates v New York Yankees
Pittsburgh Pirates v New York Yankees | Jim McIsaac/GettyImages

At the tail end of the 2023 season, Jasson Dominguez helped the New York Yankees conquer a house of horrors in Houston with a first-inning home run for the ages in his MLB debut. Since Dominguez arrived in the bigs, the Yankees are somehow 7-0 in seven regular season contests in a ballpark that gave them nightmare fuel for an entire era.

Now, it's Dominguez's turn to conquer his own personal house of horrors, according to Yankees manager Aaron Boone.

In a Tuesday appearance on WFAN, with just a few weeks to go before spring training, Boone revealed that it's "likely" Cody Bellinger starts in center field to begin the season, moving Dominguez back to left. That's the very same area where he floundered last September, leading to a postseason deemphasis.

On the one hand, it's tough to argue with Bellinger in center; he sports a career +10 DRS and +19 OAA at the position. Hopefully, his exceptional range can make up for any Dominguez shortcomings that present themselves. On the other ... man, Dominguez was quite bad in left last fall, a notoriously difficult place to play at Yankee Stadium, even for players who are experienced at the position. Catering to Dominguez's comforts, while hoping that Bellinger's skills transcend his new position, feels like the smarter play here.

Yankees plan to use Jasson Dominguez in left field, Cody Bellinger in center, per Aaron Boone

Of course, this also opens up the possibility that Dominguez is forced to "win" a job in a place he feels uncomfortable, fails to do so, and opens up an additional spot in the outfield. In that case, it sounds like Everson Pereira is fully healthy! So ... so that's good.

The best thing the Yankees can do with Dominguez is give him a long leash and a chance to be great. Trading him after a lost 2024 would be a foolish "sell low," given his obviously elevated skills and effortless power. Bundling him behind a veteran would be equally silly. The Yankees are an incomplete roster, but they're also either the best or second-best team in the American League. They have time to figure this out, and Dominguez should be afforded it.

Still, before Bellinger arrived, his versatility was prized, and some even thought he'd handle first base in the Bronx. Center field is a fine place to start, but if a rotation to left seems necessary as May approaches, the Yankees should be more than just open to the change.

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