The Bronx Bombers Under a Microscope

An Article by Dan Anicito

The New York Yankees had a strong year in 2025 despite what most fans will tell you. Although it’s true they ultimately fell short in embarrassing fashion to the division rival Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Division Series (getting blown out in Games 1 and 2 and consequently losing the series at home), the Yankees won 94 games, and had the best offense in baseball, even after losing Juan Soto the offseason before to the cross-town rival New York Mets. Many expected the Bronx Bombers to find ways to address the holes that led to their all too familiar shortcomings. But unfortunately, the organization is currently caught between a rock and a hard place.

The front office is too complacent to be considered a World Series frontrunner, but not calculated enough with their prospects to be considered a juggernaut in the farm system. Time and time again, the organization has “prospect-hugged” top minor league players that end up amounting to nothing at the big league level. Oswald Peraza and, quite frankly, Anthony Volpe, are perfect examples. Turning down trade offers for top players like Bryan Reynolds and Matt Olson, only to have Volpe ultimately be a well below league-average player, and Peraza be so offensively inept that he was traded to the black hole of Major League Baseball that is the Los Angeles Angels organization, is borderline malpractice. All value went out the window. Volpe’s starting role has put him in the spotlight, and he’s seen more than enough backlash from fans, press, and other organizations’ front office reps.

People often complain about New York’s failure to give the final push or make the last deadline move that would put them over the top and in the conversation with a super team like the Los Angeles Dodgers. Like it or not, the Yankees are consistently a top 5 spender in all of baseball and are taxed accordingly. The issue isn’t the desire to spend; however, it’s what that money is being spent on.

Over the past few seasons, the Yankees have committed an obscene amount of money to players who were later designated for assignment (DJ LeMahieu, Aaron Hicks, Marcus Stroman, to name a few). In fact, last year the Yankees paid those 3 players $48.5 million dollars worth of payroll. That amount of money being effectively flushed away would be a crushing blow for any team, but when you think about a front office that is trying to stay under a certain number while continuing to improve the squad, it stings just a bit worse.

If we’re being honest, many people were expecting Giancarlo Stanton’s later years to go similarly, particularly after his 2022 and 2023 campaigns. Thankfully, his resurgence over the past two seasons has put people at ease, but it doesn’t discount the millions of dollars the Yankees have paid players to not play baseball.

That inability to extend the payroll the extra mile for fear of leaping into the higher luxury tax bracket is a driving force behind the front office’s self-imposed “salary cap.” This has led to countless structurally impure rosters; the teams have holes that need to be filled, but the budget won’t allow the front office to make the moves necessary to stop the bleeding.

This, coupled with some poor decision-making, has put the 2026 Yankee squad in an uncomfortable position. Granted, they are in a much better spot after securing a 5-year deal with outfielder Cody Bellinger (largely on the Yankees’ terms), but the organization shot itself in the foot when outfielder Trent Grisham accepted the qualifying offer he was extended. Having two young outfielders in need of development in Spencer Jones and Jasson Dominguez, while also committing just over $22 million to a large question mark in Grisham, has led to a logjam in the outfield. The signing of Bellinger, undoubtedly necessary, only added to this. With one of those prospects becoming expendable, the Yankees might be interested in making some trades to sure up some loose ends. The question is where?

Jones and Dominguez are two highly regarded outfield prospects that the Yankees would love to see progress to the superstar level that has been envisioned for them. In the same breath, the organization would also love to command a hefty return on the trade market if either were to be dealt. Here is where the problem lies:

The primary holes that you could argue the Yankees have are in the shortstop, catcher (arguably), third base (offensively), and some of the bullpen roles. The pen is by far the biggest issue for the Yankees, despite the deadline moves made last year to attempt a quick fix. In some ways, it worked; they got their star closer in David Bednar, who was incredible down the stretch for the team. Camilo Doval was a bit of a wild card, but his velocity and spin rates are absolutely encouraging, and something fans should look forward to this season. Unfortunately, the acquisition of Jake Bird was underwhelming, with Bird blowing two games for the Yankees before being sent down to Triple-A, and not seeing the MLB roster again in 2025.

The Yankees are aware that the bullpen is an issue, but it is highly unlikely that they would be willing to part ways with the likes of Jones or Dominguez for just a relief pitcher. At the same time, figures like Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone know that it is unlikely that either outfielder will see significant time barring an injury, and with both of them in the picture, their development will be hindered, and their trade stock tarnished.

Conversely, to acquire an impact shortstop, they would likely have to part ways with more than just one of Dominguez or Jones, which the organization seems largely opposed to doing. The stopgap option of Jose Caballero will have to do until the return of Anthony Volpe, but many fans are unenthused by his return, given his performance over the past three seasons since breaking into the big leagues. And with just under $12 million committed to the sure-handed Ryan McMahon at 3rd base, the Yankees are unlikely to be on the lookout for a new 3rd baseman any time soon.

The organization will likely run into Spring Training hoping to ride the hot hand of either Dominguez or Jones, with expectations that the other will remain in Scranton to continue to develop, while the other gets the 4th outfield spot. More recent reports have surfaced indicating that Dominguez will likely start the 2026 regular season in Triple-A. Cashman’s passive approach to this offseason also did not sit right with fans, especially after the Grisham fiasco. Had Bellinger not been retained, the fan base would have been in turmoil, and the starting nine would have been full of question marks.

The hope is that as impact arms like Carlos Rodon, Gerrit Cole, and Clarke Schmidt return from injury, early-season rotation arms can either be moved to the bullpen, providing some more insurance and consistency, or be flipped at the deadline to fill a midseason need. Either way, the Yankees are an imperfect team in a competitive division and will have to hope that a lot falls their way; if not, the front office will be bearing the brunt of a seething fanbase.