Yankees’ potential $165 million signing could mean trades for Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones

Outfielder Trent Grisham accepting the New York Yankees’ $22.5 million qualifying offer won’t preclude Brian Cashman from making more moves this offseason. Cashman is expected to spend big, whether on first baseman/designated hitter Cody Bellinger or an external option.

Of course, additions won’t be the only moves Cashman makes. The Yankees may clear some clutter in their outfield if/when the team brings Bellinger back, which is the way things are currently looking.

FOX Sports’ Deesha Thosar believes outfielders Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones could be potential roster casualties if Cashman completes his re-signing of the biggest bats he was at risk of losing.

That stands true if the Yankees sign Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker instead of Bellinger, Thosar noted.

“But the thing is, if Bellinger does return to the Bronx, there’s added uncertainty surrounding the team’s developing outfielders, Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones (No. 4 overall top prospect). It’s hard to imagine a world in which Bellinger, Grisham, and Aaron Judge are patrolling the outfield and Dominguez/Jones are still on the 40-man roster. In that scenario, expect a trade to be made,” Thosar wrote.

“If Bellinger signs elsewhere, then it’s more likely the Yankees open spring training with Dominguez and Jones competing for the open left-field job. Of course, New York is still keeping tabs on top free-agent outfielder Kyle Tucker, too. If the team makes any outside addition to the outfield, Dominguez or Jones could be on the move.”

NYY trading away their best prospects is a tale as old as time, and one Cashman has told time and again while in charge of the Yankees’ front office. Seeing either of those guys shipped for a bullpen arm wouldn’t be surprising if Bellinger or Tucker is signed.

We’ll see which path Cashman chooses. It feels inevitable that it’ll be the win-now one.