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Cody Bellinger? Mike Trout? Yankees 2024 center field options with Jasson Domnguez shelved

BOSTON — The New York Yankees are down to their last-resort option in center field for the final 19 games of the 2023 season. After Jasson Domínguez was ruled out for the remainder of the year with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, the Yankees called up former top prospect Estevan Florial on Monday.

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Florial posted a 129 wRC+ with 28 home runs, 79 RBIs and a .284/.380/.565 batting line with Triple-A Scranton this season before his opportunity opened to audition for the Yankees’ center field spot next year. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Florial had a “monster” Triple-A season and will have a chance to “play a lot” because of Domínguez’s injury.

Boone said on Monday that Domínguez has yet to schedule surgery because he is still in the process of gathering medical opinions. It also hasn’t been 100 percent determined that Domínguez will need Tommy John surgery. If he doesn’t, an option could be an internal bracing procedure, which Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story underwent to repair his UCL in January. Story missed the team’s first 112 games before returning in early August. No matter which option Domínguez needs, the 20-year-old top prospect will likely miss several months of the 2024 season.

Even though Domínguez impressed in his short stint with the Yankees, it was still way too early to know if he would have emerged as the team’s starting center fielder for next season’s Opening Day roster. But that’s no longer an option, and it has sprung open an infinitesimal chance for the cast-aside Florial.

“Hopefully he can take advantage and build off of what’s been a strong season and parlay that into some big-league success and really catapult him into the winter and put himself in a really good situation,” Boone said.

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Florial was one of the best hitters across the minor leagues this season. His 14 percent barrel rate ranked in the 97th percentile in Triple A. Not only was Florial hitting the ball harder than most but he was generally making encouraging swing decisions, as his chase-rate percentage ranked in the 65th percentile and his in-zone swing percentage ranked in the 77th percentile.

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The No. 1 issue for Florial has been his swing-and-miss numbers. His 35.6 percent whiff rate ranks in the seventh percentile, which is alarming because a whiff rate that high in the minors tends to correlate with very little success at the MLB level. He also had difficulty hitting off-speed pitches, which also is bad news for a hitter who will face significantly better pitching than what he saw in Triple A.

This chance Florial has in front of him is the best one he’s gotten since joining the organization in 2015, but the odds of him cracking the 2024 roster are still quite long. For one, the Yankees’ actions have shown fans all season long that they do not believe in Florial’s ability. They designated him for assignment after Opening Day. They chose nearly every other capable outfielder in their system over him when they had numerous injuries. Players like Franchy Cordero, Jake Bauers, Willie Calhoun, Isiah Kiner-Falefa (who wasn’t even an outfielder prior to this season) and Billy McKinney were chosen over Florial. It would be stunning if Florial somehow emerged as a viable center-field option for 2024.

One of the problems the Yankees might run into this offseason when it comes to filling the hole in the middle of their outfield is the external options aren’t particularly appealing. Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger is by far the No. 1 free-agent target the Yankees can consider. The Yankees were interested in trading for him at the deadline but the Cubs ultimately held him for a postseason run. He’s likely going to receive some down-ballot MVP votes in the National League and command a long-term, nine-figure deal this offseason.

Signing Bellinger long-term would be a risky move. While the former MVP has a left-handed swing perfectly crafted for Yankee Stadium’s short porch, he’s not far removed from two horrifically bad seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. But because he’s having an extraordinary year in a down free agency class, Bellinger is likely going to cash in handsomely. The Yankees already have a few contracts on their roster that are handcuffing them. Could they afford potentially another one with a player who isn’t as close to a sure thing as someone like San Diego Padres superstar Juan Soto? He may find himself in trade discussions this offseason heading into his final season before free agency. If the Padres are open for business, the Yankees should pursue him over Bellinger.

Mike Trout is set to earn over $248 million over the next seven seasons. (Kiyoshi Mio / USA Today)

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported the Los Angeles Angels could be open to trading Mike Trout if he asks out this offseason. Though Trout is an undeniable future first-ballot Hall of Famer, it would be another risky proposition for the Yankees to consider a move for him, too. The Yankees have a problem staying healthy, and they’d be adding another player with a lengthy injury history and an expensive long-term contract. A potential positive in possibly acquiring Trout is because of his contract situation, it may not cost as much in prospect capital to land him as it would for someone like Soto.

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Outside of the two star options in Bellinger and Trout, the center-field options in free agency are grim. Former Yankee Harrison Bader, whom the team put on waivers a few weeks ago before he was acquired by the Cincinnati Reds, is one of the better impending free agents. Because there aren’t many appealing options, Bader may end up getting a multiyear deal from a team that falls in love with his defensive metrics and speed. The Yankees should only consider Bader if he finds himself searching for a one-year deal.

Korean star Jung-hoo Lee is expected to be posted by the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO League this offseason. The 25-year-old was named the KBO League MVP last year and posted an .863 OPS in 85 games this season before fracturing his left ankle. He would be an appealing option if the Yankees want to add more of a contact-oriented hitter.

If the Yankees want a stopgap option as they wait for Domínguez to fully heal, Toronto Blue Jays’ Kevin Kiermaier may be their best option in free agency. Kiermaier is a defensive whiz who runs well, much like Bader. Kiermaier would also give the Yankees another much-needed left-handed bat in their order. Kiermaier makes a whole lot of sense for the Yankees given their needs for next season and the long term as they wait for Domínguez, whom they view as their center fielder of the future.

“He’s had a really strong year and obviously came up and had a really good week of success,” Boone said of Domínguez. “Everyone is excited about his future and what he can be. Let’s get (surgery) done and see how he returns and he’ll be ready when he’s ready.”

Even with banking on Domínguez’s return at some point in 2024 and hoping he’s capable of producing over a larger sample size, the Yankees need to be aggressive this offseason in adding a few external bats for an offense that desperately needs more juice.

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(Top photo of Cody Bellinger: Nuccio DiNuzzo / Getty Images)

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