Former Mets’ GM breaks down why Cody Bellinger gives Yankees an edge vs. Kyle Tucker

New York Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman told reporters on Thursday that the team still has "two vacancies" left in the outfield. To fill those vacancies, the Yankees will look towards marquee free agent outfielders Cody Bellinger and Kyle Tucker.

Aaron Judge and Trent Grisham, who recently accepted a $22.025 million qualifying offer, are currently certain to start. But getting both Tucker and Bellinger from free agency would be a mammoth task.

According to Steve Phillips, former General Manager of the New York Mets from 1997 to 2003, the Yankees are going to make Bellinger their primary free agent target because of his versatility.

"If Cody Bellinger is your priority, Plan B is not Kyle Tucker. Kyle Tucker's only a Plan A because he's going to be $400 million, close to that number," Phillips noted. "Cody Bellinger's going to be down closer to $200 million. So you don't say, "Well, my Plan A is the guy for $200 million, but if we don't get him, let me double that and go get the guy worth $400 million." "So, Kyle Tucker's the better player, he is, but the better value for me is Cody Bellinger. I mean, their numbers aren't that far off, and Cody Bellinger's a center fielder and a left fielder and a right fielder, where Kyle Tucker's really just a corner outfielder. So, in many ways, he gives you more versatility. He can play first base, too. And so, he gives you more options. I think Cody Bellinger's the priority for the Yankees."

The difference in value could be because of Tucker's power game, which is a nod better than Bellinger's, and the one-year difference in age. But the latter had a superlative season in defense and was well suited to Yankee Stadium, where he hit at .302 with 18 home runs and 55 RBIs with a .909 OPS.

Currently, as Judge plays in left field, and former two-time Gold Glove winner, Grisham, takes up center field duties, Bellinger could slide into right field. Whether Grisham resigns for 2027 depends on his next season, giving the Yankees a chance to play Bellinger in center. Also, with Judge aging and designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton's contract winding up, the 30-year-old's versatility could be key.

Steve Phillips signals possible trade for Jasson Dominguez

If Cashman settles the three outfield positions and they have No.4 prospect Spencer Jones waiting in the wings, that makes outfielder Jasson Dominguez a prime target to be traded. Dominguez had an above-average rookie season, hitting at .257 with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs.

According to Phillips, the Yankees could strike a deal with the Minnesota Twins to bring in a pitcher at the expense of Dominguez.

"Teams out there, they're going to say, "Listen, I'll take a chance on him. Let me give him some at bats on my roster." So, you can see small, middle-market teams saying, "Yeah, let's go." And if the Yankees want pitching, maybe there's a team they match up with. Maybe the Minnesota Twins in a Joe Ryan or Pablo López conversation would love to have Jasson Dominguez as the lead player in that deal," Phillips added.

The Yankees' outfield decisions could be key to them fighting for a championship next season. They were beaten by the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Division Series.

Edited by R. Nikhil Parshy