The Yankees entered the offseason with a hole in center field, but it was one that was filled pretty promptly. They extended the qualifying offer to Trent Grisham, and Grisham accepted it, setting him up to start in center in the Bronx on Opening Day.
But Grisham will be a free agent again after 2026, and the Yankees will have another choice to make. That choice stands out; other than second base, center field is the only position where the Yankees’ current projected starter isn’t under control for multiple years. It begs the question: who is the Yankees’ center fielder of the future?
As it stands, there seem to be four primary options, and the one that will fill the role in 2026 might be the least likely of them all. Grisham turned in a fantastic 2025 campaign, and the Yankees should be pleased to have him back for another year at a $22-million rate. But with Grisham set to hit free agency again, it’s easy to envision one of two scenarios: him either repeating his breakout 2025 and signing a long-term contract somewhere else, or Grisham regressing, leaving the Yankees uninterested in further retaining his services.
Should Grisham leave, could the team turn back to Cody Bellinger? The 30-year-old was actually the team’s starter in center on Opening Day last year, but quickly ceded the role to Grisham once the latter started raking. Bellinger is an excellent athlete who has played center field at a high level at various points in his career, but he’s entering his 30’s, and rated as just passable in center in a small sample last year. Would the Yankees entrust the position to him as he enters or nears his decline phase?
Then, there are the youthful options. Jasson Domínguez once looked ticketed for the role, an uber athlete that, coming up through the minors, looked like a good bet to remain in center. Yet Domínguez has found himself in left in recent years, and has largely looked like a liability. Spencer Jones actually seems like the more likely option to be able to handle center in the medium-term, with scouts putting average-to-plus grades on each of Jones’ speed, arm, and fielding. Jones, though, comes with more questions regarding his bat, as it’s anyone’s guess at this point whether Jones will limit swings and misses enough at the big league level to access his mammoth raw power.
What do you think? Is the Yankees’ center fielder of the future on the active roster right now, or somewhere down on the farm? Or, is he not even in the organization yet?
On the site today, Andrés previews an interesting figure in the Yankees organization, that of Dax Kilby, the club’s 2025 first-round pick. We’ll also see Michael look over the Cubs as part of our MLB Preview, while Jeff wishes a happy birthday to Brian Fisher. And be sure to catch the start of today’s spring training game, as it will be Gerrit Cole’s first live action since 2024.
Today’s Matchup
New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox
Time: 1:05 p.m. EST
Video: YES, MLBN (out-of-market only), NESN, Gotham Sports App
Venue: George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, FL
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