The New York Yankees find themselves at a delicate crossroads as the 2026 season approaches, and few players embody that uncertainty more clearly than outfielder Jasson Dominguez. Once considered untouchable, Dominguez now enters the year with his future surprisingly unclear.

Heading into his second full major league campaign, the 22-year-old is no longer viewed as a guaranteed building block. Instead, he represents a complicated evaluation problem for a Yankees organization balancing immediate contention with long-term asset management.

Dominguez began the 2025 season as New York’s starting left fielder, a role that seemed to validate years of hype and patient development. His early opportunities suggested the franchise was finally ready to let him grow through inevitable struggles.

However, those struggles quickly became difficult to overlook. As the season progressed, Dominguez’s defensive shortcomings in left field became increasingly apparent, ultimately forcing the Yankees to remove him from the everyday lineup during the second half.

Defense was not the only concern. While Dominguez showed flashes at the plate, his overall offensive production failed to justify continued regular playing time on a roster built to win immediately.

Over the full season, Dominguez posted a .257 batting average with a .331 on-base percentage and a .388 slugging percentage. He finished with 10 home runs and 47 runs batted in, numbers that fell short of expectations given his prospect pedigree.

Those figures were buoyed by a strong opening stretch, masking a prolonged period of inconsistency. As opposing pitchers adjusted, Dominguez struggled to counter, raising legitimate questions about his offensive ceiling at the major league level.

The timing of his regression could not have been worse. This offseason, the Yankees dramatically reshaped their outfield picture by re-signing Cody Bellinger to a five-year deal and retaining Trent Grisham on a qualifying offer.

Those moves effectively erased Dominguez’s most obvious path to playing time. With Bellinger locked into a prominent role and Grisham providing defensive reliability, Dominguez suddenly found himself without a clear position.

Complicating matters further is the presence of Spencer Jones, another highly regarded outfield prospect nearing major league readiness. Jones offers a blend of power and defensive upside that aligns more cleanly with New York’s current needs.

When evaluating roster construction, the Yankees now face an uncomfortable reality. Dominguez, once viewed as a franchise cornerstone, has become somewhat expendable due to positional redundancy and uncertain performance projections.

That shift in perception was underscored by comments from Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, who suggested that the Yankees may be willing to include Dominguez in trade talks under the right circumstances.

According to Hoch, New York could consider dangling either Dominguez or Jones if it aims to complete another deal before Opening Day. The goal of such a move would be to fortify a bullpen that remains a strategic priority.

The Yankees’ relief corps is currently anchored by David Bednar, Camilo Doval, Fernando Cruz, and Tim Hill. While talented, the group lacks proven depth, particularly in high-leverage postseason scenarios.

Trading a former elite prospect for a bullpen arm would represent a dramatic pivot. For years, Dominguez was shielded from trade discussions, treated as a near-sacred asset within the organization.

The idea of general manager Brian Cashman moving Dominguez for a reliever would have been unthinkable just a season ago. Yet baseball value is fluid, and circumstances can alter priorities quickly.

New York has not been shy about making aggressive bullpen trades in the past. Just last year, the Yankees dealt promising infield prospect Caleb Durbin to the Milwaukee Brewers to acquire closer Devin Williams.

That trade paid immediate dividends, reinforcing the organization’s belief that elite relief pitching can dramatically impact postseason success. It also demonstrated Cashman’s willingness to sacrifice future upside for present certainty.

Still, Dominguez is not Caleb Durbin. The former was once marketed as a potential five-tool superstar, a switch-hitter with power, speed, and charisma capable of becoming the face of the franchise.

However, the five-tool label has steadily eroded under scrutiny. Defensive limitations in left field exposed a lack of natural instincts, while his arm strength failed to compensate for poor reads and routes.

Offensively, the anticipated power surge never materialized. Even in the minor leagues, Dominguez’s slugging output lagged behind expectations, calling into question long-standing projections about his home run potential.

While he continues to show plate discipline and contact ability, those skills alone may not justify a starting role on a contending Yankees team. The margin for patience narrows significantly when championships are the objective.

From a value perspective, Dominguez’s stock has clearly dipped. That decline does not render him insignificant, but it does open doors that were previously sealed shut.

It is important to note that trading Dominguez would not necessarily signal failure. Rather, it would reflect a recalibration of expectations and a pragmatic acknowledgment of roster realities.

The Yankees’ current construction leaves little room for developmental growing pains. Every lineup spot and roster decision is evaluated through the lens of October, not long-term potential.

In that context, converting a blocked outfielder into a high-impact reliever may represent sound asset management, even if it feels emotionally deflating for fans who bought into Dominguez’s promise.

There is also the question of opportunity cost. Allowing Dominguez to stagnate on the bench could further depress his value, turning a once-premium asset into a sunk cost.

Conversely, a trade now could allow another organization to unlock his remaining upside while providing the Yankees with immediate bullpen stability, a resource historically scarce and expensive.

Of course, any such deal would carry significant risk. Relievers are notoriously volatile, and surrendering a young, controllable player for bullpen help can backfire if performance declines or injuries intervene.

That risk, however, has not deterred New York in the past. The franchise has consistently demonstrated a willingness to gamble when the competitive window demands bold action.

Ultimately, Dominguez’s situation reflects the unforgiving nature of roster construction at the highest level. Talent alone is not enough; fit, timing, and opportunity often matter just as much.

It is not shocking that Dominguez has become a trade candidate given his lack of a defined role. What would truly stun the baseball world is seeing him moved specifically for a bullpen piece.

Such a transaction would serve as a sobering reminder that prospect hype does not guarantee permanence. In the Yankees’ pursuit of another championship, sentimentality rarely survives contact with reality.

As Opening Day approaches, Dominguez remains a name to watch. Whether he becomes a key contributor elsewhere or a cautionary tale in New York will depend on how aggressively the Yankees choose to reshape their roster.